Most Viewed Stories
Newport Harbor's Glenn coached May-Treanor, Ross
Dan Glenn is rooting for the women's beach volleyball team with the player he used to coach at Newport Harbor High School. That would be both teams.
Dan Glenn is rooting for the women's beach volleyball team with the player he used to coach at Newport Harbor High School.
That would be both teams.
Glenn coached Misty May-Treanor and April Ross at Newport Harbor. May-Treanor and teammate Kerri Walsh Jennings play Ross and her teammate, Jen Kessy of San Clemente, in the Olympics women's beach volleyball gold-medal game at 1 p.m. Wednesday (NBC will tape delay the event).
"I'm so excited for these two," said Glenn, who will coach Harbor's girls volleyball team for a 27th season this fall. "This is unbelievable."
More: OC Register Olympics Page
Glenn had to pass on going to London himself to watch the Olympics. He is recovering from knee surgery. So Glenn and the Newport Harbor girls volleyball team will watch the women's final tonight at the renovated Port Theatre in Corona del Mar; Glenn said he will also watch live streaming of the match on his computer.
May-Treanor was Orange County player of the year in 1994, when she also was national player of the year after leading the Sailors to CIF section and state championships. Ross was county player of the year in '99, when she also led Newport to section and state titles.
May-Treanor goes for a third Olympic gold medal in what she has said will be her final competition. Ross is playing for her first gold medal.
Glenn is excited for both.
"For Misty, this is the last match she's ever going to play," Glenn said. "And I'm so excited for April. Four years ago, April and Jen were the No. 7 team in the world and they didn't get to go to the Olympics."
Glenn won't predict a winner, and won't root for one over the other. But he will reminisce as he watches May-Treanor's and Ross' competitive spirit once again.
"I remember how they would screw up my drills in practice," Glenn said. "The intent of my drills is to work on technique, but those two were all about winning the drill. That would just frustrate me as a coach."
May-Treanor and Ross have not forgotten their connections to Newport Harbor. May-Treanor spoke to the Newport Harbor players before their match in the CIF-Southern Section final last year, and had been working out in the school's weight room with trainer Maryn Ciarelli for eight months before going to London. Ross made a trip to Goleta to cheer on Newport's Sailors as they played Dos Pueblos in the state tournament.
Glenn said May-Treanor and Ross were dissimilar players in high school – May-Treanor was more of a finesse player, Ross was more of a power player.
"They were different then, and they still are for that matter," Glenn said. "They're the two most competitive girls I ever coached. These girls love to compete, but I don't think they really like competing against each other."
Glenn does not like them competing against each other, either. But he still is going to enjoy it.
