GAMERS

Tony Altobelli

The Newport Harbor boys water polo team looks to make the first of

hopefully two trips to Belmont Plaza with a season-opening matchup with

fellow-powerhouse and defending Division I champion Long Beach Wilson.

The varsity is set to begin at approximately 6:30 p.m. following the

lower-level contests.

“Our goal is to have our first contest and our last played in Long

Beach,” Sailors Coach Brian Kreutzkamp said. “We’ve been working the

players very hard during the off-season, especially our seniors. We need

to have a strong base so we can have a strong finish at the end of the

season.”

Despite the loss of top players Tony Azevedo and Albert Garcia, Wilson

still has a strong returning nucleus that includes All-CIF first-teamer

James Chin.

“They have Chin back, goalie Zack Walter is back and they have some

transfer from Slovakia that’s like 6-foot-5 or something,” Kreutzcamp

said. “If that guy is as good as people say, they’re still the team to

beat.”

With Newport seniors Peter Belden and Ryan Cook the center of the

Bruins’ attention, Kreutzkamp looks for big games from seniors Steven

Jendrusina, Joey Snelgrove and Caine Littrell.

“Our big players will be neutralized by Wilson’s big players,”

Kreutzkamp said. “We will have to rely on the depth of our team to pull

us through.”

In other action:

With a ton of talent and expectations, the Corona del Mar High girls

tennis squad opens its 2000 season today with a home match against Mater

Dei, beginning at 3:15 p.m.

The Sea Kings will face a different Monarchs squad that finished

ranked No. 4 in CIF Southern Section Division II last year.

“They lost two or three of their top players from last year and that’s

hard to overcome,” Sea Kings Coach Andy Stewart said. “I don’t know too

much about their players and quite honestly, my concern is on my own

players.”

One of Stewart’s worries involves the availability of junior Kim

Singer. Hampered with wrist problems, her status is doubtful due to a

rotator cuff injury.

“She’s been bitten with injuries for a while now,” Stewart said. “That

happens with some players. We’re going to have to juggle the lineup and

get hope that some of our freshman players are ready to step up.”

Ranked No. 1 in the CIF-SS preseason poll, the Sea Kings will hope to

gain some momentum from today’s match and carry it into Thursday’s

showdown at Woodbridge.

“We’ll just have to see how our team responds,” Stewart said.

The two-time defending CIF Division I state champion Newport Harbor

girls volleyball squad opens its 2000 season at Laguna Beach with sights

set a little closer to the present than in years past.

“This year, we’re just trying to improve week to week,” Coach Dan

Glenn said. “The past few years, we’ve been working toward the end the

year and hopefully this year, we’ll still be playing at the end of the

year. But right now I’m more concerned with getting better every day.”

It won’t be easy for the Sailors, losing National Player of the Year

April Ross (USC), Krista Dill (Duke) and Brenda Waterman (UCI) to

graduation, as well as current senior and UCLA-bound Heather Cullen to a

season-ending knee injury.

“That’s a lot of talent to try to replace,” Glenn said. “But we have a

ton of talent on this team. Right now, we just don’t have that one go-to

girl who can put the ball away every time. We’re going to have to rely on

winning points on long rallies and total teamwork.”

Newport will look to three-year varsity standout Taylor Govaars for

the offensive firepower, while setters Katie King and Colby George will

help stabilize the Sailors’ attack.

“With Katie and Colby, it’s a good 1-2 punch,” Glenn said. “Each one

provides something different to help our offense be successful.”

Two other local high schools will kick off their volleyball seasons

today. Corona del Mar will host Calvary Chapel at 4:30 p.m., while Costa

Mesa competes at Mater Dei at 3:30 p.m.

On the college level, the Vanguard University women’s team will play

at Christian Heritage tonight at 7.

In other girls tennis action, Newport Harbor will open its 2000 season

on the road against University at 3 p.m., Estancia will host Orange at

3:15 and Costa Mesa will play at San Clemente at 3.

Newport Harbor field hockey will do battle against defending CIF champ

Edison on the Chargers’ field at 3:15 p.m., while in girls golf, Newport

Harbor will play the first half of its nonleague match with Mission

Viejo at the Mission Viejo Country Club at 2:30 p.m.

Estancia will play the front nine of its match with Woodbridge today

at 2:30 p.m. at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club’s Mesa Linda Course.