What Brown can do for Tars

Outlook: Munoz takes over at Estancia after former coach Jim Huffman helped the girls earn CIF Southern Section playoff berths out of the Orange Coast League the last four years. The 27-year-old Munoz said he decided to coach the girls after coaching the boys at Estancia in the spring because he wants to give back to a sport that allowed him to play libero at Long Beach State, join the U.S. national team and play professionally overseas. Munoz understands the Eagles have a long way to go before contending in league and the playoffs. The Eagles are once again in the CIF Southern Section Division I-A, the second biggest playoff format. Munoz plans to introduce players to yoga. McLendon returns after recording 311 kills and receiving first-team all-league honors.

NEWPORT HARBOR

Coach: Dan Glenn (25th year)

2009 record: 33-6, 9-1 in the Sunset League (tied for first)

Returning starters: S-OPP Cinnamon Sary (Jr.); OH Maddy Brown (Sr.); MB Alexandra Holbrook (Jr.)

Key newcomers: OH Sarah Buckingham (Sr.); MB Lauren Demos (Sr.); DS Tabitha Goff (Sr.); Tatum Norton (Jr.)

Key dates: at Laguna Beach, Sept. 14; at Dave Mohs Tournament, Sept. 17-18, 20; at La Vegas Durango Classic, Sept. 24-25; at Los Alamitos, Oct. 7; at Edison, Oct. 12; Los Alamitos (home), Oct. 26; Edison (home), Oct. 28; at Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions, Oct. 29-30; at Corona del Mar, Nov. 5

Outlook: The Sailors won every championship last year, Sunset League, CIF Southern Section Division I-AA and CIF State Division I. Doing it all over again is what drives Glenn and he believes he has the players, Brown and Sary, to lead the way. The Sailors, ranked No. 36 in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com are going to battle third-ranked Los Alamitos again for league and section supremacy. The rivals met twice in August at the Ann Kang Invitational in Hawaii, where the Griffins won the first meeting and then the Sailors took the second one to finish third at the prestigious event. Glenn said his team played OK, never living up to the top-seed billing. Newport Harbor lost three standouts in Katey Thompson (UC Santa Barbara), Kirby Burnham (USC) and Kelly Heenan (UCSB) to graduation.

SAGE HILL

Coach: Dan Thomassen (seventh year)

2009 record: 15-11, 8-2 in the Academy League (second)

Returning starters: MB Zoe Kreitenberg (Jr.); OH Natasha Sakraney (Jr.)

Key newcomers: OH Maggie Danner (So.); OPP-S Alayna Lewis (Jr.); OH Brenna Van Hoogenstyn (So.); OPP Sophie Gordon (Fr.); MB Lizzie Geocaris (So.); L Elisa Lee (Sr.)

Key dates: Calvary Murrieta (home), Sept. 9; at Beckman, Sept. 14; JSerra (home), Sept. 15; at St. Margaret's, Oct. 21; St. Margaret's (home), Nov. 4

Outlook: The Lightning are young with only one senior in Lee, but Thomassen is optimistic about his team's chances to upset rival St. Margaret's for the Academy League title. The only two setbacks in league last year were to St. Margaret's. Sage Hill last won league two years ago, when the Lightning shared it with the Tartans. The Lightning lost outside hitter Lindsey Kish, a four-time first-team all-league selection, to graduation. Thomassen is counting on Kreitenberg, Sakraney and Maggie Danner, the sister of 2009 graduate Tierney Danner, to produce. Sage has qualified for the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA playoffs the past two seasons.