Calling the Shots:

We all know the flu has been going around, infecting many athletes during the fall season. But today will be a time when illness won’t matter.

Most things won’t be of more importance than the actual events set to take place for four local teams who are in CIF Southern Section championship contention.

The two high schools near the Back Bay, Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor, have the opportunity to add to their championship tradition. The Sea Kings and Sailors just might be planning to order rings after the day ends.

Call it, “Back Bay Bling.”

The day begins with the CdM girls’ cross country team vying to win its sixth straight CIF Division III championship at Mt. San Antonio College. Senior Melanie Powers has a good chance to be the individual champ, as well. Coach Bill Sumner should have his runners competing at their highest level at this time of the year and ready to deliver the 11th title in his 27 years at the school.

Then it’s on to Fresno next week to compete in the state championships at Woodward Park, where CdM won a title last year. At the state meet, the Sea Kings will try to become the first team in CIF history to win seven state titles.

Up next today will be the CdM girls’ volleyball team. The No. 2-seeded Sea Kings (28-5) will be seeking to exact revenge against top-seeded Redlands East Valley (33-3) in the CIF Division II-AA title match, set for 1 p.m. at Cypress College. Last year, Redlands East Valley swept CdM to win its second straight CIF title.

The Sea Kings will be trying to win their first CIF crown since 2004. That team featured Jordan Smith. Her younger sister, Madie, is the senior setter for this year’s team. The CdM program has won seven section titles.

At 6:30 p.m., the Newport Harbor boys’ water polo team will be trying to win its second CIF Division I title in the past three years. The No. 2-seeded Sailors (26-4) will face No. 4 El Toro (28-3) at Irvine High. Newport Harbor, a deep team that features stars Blake Kelly, Zach Lucas and Matt Russell, has won 12 section titles and has played in a CIF final 21 times in its rich history.

The day ends with the top-seeded Newport Harbor girls’ volleyball team playing for the CIF Division I-AA championship against rival Los Alamitos (30-7), the No. 2 seed. The match is scheduled to start at 7:37 p.m. at Cypress College. The Sailors (28-6) have won six section titles under Dan Glenn, the coach who revealed earlier this month he has iris melanoma, a rare form of cancer in his right eye. Glenn and Newport Harbor are in a CIF section title match for the 10th time in his 24 years as coach.

Seniors Kirby Burnham and Katey Thompson will surely be important players for Newport Harbor, but it will also take a great match from sophomore setter Cinnamon Sary and junior outside hitter Maddy Brown to push the Sailors to the top.

It will be a battle for sure. Newport Harbor and Los Alamitos shared the Sunset League title this year.

For my prediction for each team visit www.dailypilot/dailyblogger/svirgen.