DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:

No one really knows whether the season is still alive for the Newport Harbor High girls’ volleyball team.

Still, Alex Penewell showed up for practice Thursday as did the rest of her teammates. The start of this one was unusual. Almost as odd as working out without any guarantees that there is a match to play next week.

Nothing the senior middle blocker can do about that. But just wait until Sunday when the CIF Southern Section releases its four entries into the Division II state tournament. In the meantime, it’s just practice time for Penewell.

First, just wake up earlier than usual. Second, get to Newport Harbor. Third, start practice at 6:15 a.m. Check. Check. Check.

Wait a minute. Penewell still has to remind herself why the Sailors are practicing so early two days after losing a five-game heartbreaker in the Division I-AA semifinals at Mira Costa, the No. 1-ranked team in the country? It’s the only time the gym is available is the answer Penewell said she received from Coach Dan Glenn.

Believe it. Glenn said some might believe it’s a long shot for Newport Harbor to earn a state berth, the school’s first since 2003. Some thought the Sailors couldn’t compete with Mira Costa either, but Penewell proved them wrong with a 16-kill performance Tuesday.

But it’s now a stressful situation, one Penewell and the rest of the Sailors (26-4) could’ve avoided if they had finished off Mira Costa (32-0) after winning the first two games and going up, 20-17, in the third.

“We were so close to sweeping. We can’t stop but think about it sometimes,” said Penewell, who saw Mira Costa come back and win, 22-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-20, 15-10. “Now there are so many scenarios if we’ll get a shot to continue on that it’s really confusing. We just have to wait and see what happens.”

One thing is for sure, Penewell said she won’t watch tonight’s Division I-AA section final between Mira Costa and Redondo Union on Fox Sport Net.

“We should’ve been on TV,” she said, knowing the winner will receive an automatic entry into state.

The loser will also have an advantage over Newport Harbor by virtue of advancing to the section final for the second straight year. The two Bay League rivals will most likely get into state.

Two other Division II state eligible programs, North Torrance (25-2) and Cypress (30-2), are playing for separate section titles today. North Torrance against Redlands East Valley in Division II-A and Cypress against California of Whittier in Division III-AA, and both North Torrance and Cypress will be at home. So will Glenn and his Sailors.

“We’re in limbo. I’ve turned in the necessary paperwork into CIF to see if we can get into state,” said Glenn, who’s in his 22nd year at Newport Harbor. “If both North Torrance and Cypress lose, we’re looking good. I think we deserve to get in. If it comes down to any criteria, there’s only one team that matches up better for an at-large bid and that’s Mira Costa. We already beat Redondo in Las Vegas at the Durango tournament.”

True, but Glenn knows that win practically meant nothing when the Sailors were seeded fourth and Redondo third before the playoffs. A Sunset League champ lost out to a second-place team in the Bay League.

The Sailors still managed to push past the cumbersome upper bracket. One player allowing them to get through ultra-competitive matches against Long Beach Wilson in the second round, followed by Dana Hills in the quarterfinals was Penewell.

All year long she complimented outside hitter Jamie Heenan and opposite Megan Munce nicely. But as the playoffs approached and with the league title still up in the air against Los Alamitos in the final week of the regular season, Penewell elevated her play.

The Sailors were able to share the league crown for the second straight year. And setter Alesha Young kept feeding the 5-foot-11 Penewell those slick backset passes with Penewell in stride ready to pound the ball down someone’s throat.

During the section playoff run, Penewell recorded double figures in kills every time. The most came against Mira Costa. Sixteen kills, four coming in the decisive fifth game, practically matching whatever Mira Costa’s 6-foot-4 sophomore sensation Falyn Fonoimoana did until the end.

“It was hard because that school has so much tradition and we almost pulled it off,” said Penewell of Mira Costa, a seven-time state champ looking to claim its 15th section championship. “I don’t want to end my senior year this way before I go to the University of Colorado, where I plan to walk on. We’re hoping we’re still alive.”

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at [email protected].