Volleyball

Weston Dunlap is still a work-in-progress as a volleyball player. The Newport Harbor High senior believes it, and Sailors Coach Dan Glenn believes it. But that doesn't mean Dunlap isn't already outright dominant at times for the Tars. The 6-foot-7 middle blocker showed that on March 30 in a big five-game win at Fountain Valley. Dunlap had 24 kills, six blocks and one service ace in that match. In the ultra-competitive Sunset League, which is only guaranteed three CIF Southern Section Division I playoff spots, Glenn said it was a crucial win for the Sailors (11-9, 2-2 in league)

NEWPORT COAST - First year boys' volleyball coach Dan Thomassen is happy his team had an easy win in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division V playoffs. Sage Hill School (14-7) defeated Orangewood Academy (8-6) 25-8, 25-10, 25-15 Thursday night. But he knows the rest of the ride through the postseason won't be so smooth, especially when he's leading a team devoid of seniors. Two freshmen, three sophomores, and two juniors make up the team's starters. "Without any seniors, our biggest question is maturity, and when we get into tight matches how they handle it," Thomassen said.

On the floor, behind the rest of his Newport Harbor High teammates, Cody Caldwell watches the coach and TV. Dan Glenn instructs. The TV is the visual lesson for Thursday. Glenn has been the head coach of the Newport Harbor boys’ volleyball program since 1987. Breaking down teams, footage, players, he excels at these coaching rituals. Glenn has a good read on Caldwell, almost as well as his parents. He befriended the Caldwells before coaching Cody. Whatever Glenn says about the 6-foot-5, 175-pounder, you can take his words for it. “Cody is not all connected yet,” Glenn said.

With little more than a year of experience, Bradley Reitler is quickly becoming a veteran on the Estancia High boys’ volleyball team. Reitler, a junior middle blocker, hadn’t given the sport much thought until his sophomore year, when Eagles coach Mark Cygan saw him fooling around with a ball after a girls’ match. Cygan asked him to try out, and Reitler became one of the new faces on the team. Cygan was trying to rebuild after losing the seniors that led to the Eagles’ 2006 success.

FRESNO — The Orange Coast College women's volleyball team began defense of its state title with a 30-13, 30-20, 28-30, 30-20 victory over Shasta in the double-elimination tournament of the California Community College Commission on Athletics State Championships Friday. Two-time All-American Kiwi Winkler led the Pirates (22-2) with 29 kills and 12 digs. "I'm proud of the way the girls came out and played a very aggressive style of volleyball," Pirates' Coach Chuck Cutenese said in a press release.

Former Newport Harbor High standout Kirby Burnham and UC Irvine starters Aly Squires and Kristin Winkler are among 48 players selected to participate in the U.S women's national A2 volleyball team program this summer. Burnham, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter at USC, started seven matches for in 2011, helping the Women of Troy reach the NCAA semifinals, where they were defeated by Illinois to finish 29-5. Burnham had 72 kills, five aces and nine block assists as a sophomore. Winkler, a junior libero in 2011, led the Anteaters with 573 digs, while Squires, a 6-1 outside hitter, led UCI with 372 kills.

FRESNO — The second day of the California Community Colleges Commission on Athletics State Volleyball Tournament had a little bit of everything for the Orange Coast College women's volleyball team. In the end, the Pirates earned a return trip to the state championship match, slated for today at 1 p.m. OCC will take on today's winner of Sacramento City-L.A. Pierce "Comparing two volleyball teams is like comparing children — you just can't do that," OCC Coach Chuck Cutenese said in a press release.

IRVINE — UC Irvine played host to Long Beach State in a Big West Conference women’s volleyball match Friday night. But the objective observer might suggest the Anteaters were clearly out of their league. For though UCI battled the 49ers to the brink in Games 2 and 3, Long Beach State, winner of eight of its last nine matches, came away with a 30-24, 34-32, 31-29 sweep to solidify its hold on second place, behind conference-leading Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. UCI (16-8, 6-3 in conference)

Breaking up was hard to do for Annie Kim, but getting back together has been that much sweeter. Kim and volleyball are together again, a harmonious reunion that is commencing at Irvine Valley College, where the Lasers are ranked No. 18 in the state and Kim is a big part of it. Her play in IVC's victory over No. 7-ranked Fullerton earlier in the week was pivotal at a pivotal point in the season. A 5-foot-8 outside hitter, Kim had 15 kills, three blocks and two aces while hitting .320 in the match.