NEWPORT BEACH – It was the final regular-season match for the San Clemente and Newport Harbor girls volleyball teams, a nonleague match that means nothing to their final league standings.

“What we told our girls,” Newport Harbor coach Pat Eaton said, “‘the playoffs start tonight.’”

The CIF Southern Section playoffs do not begin until next week. Playoff brackets will be released Saturday morning. But both teams played with a high level of effort and spirit as if the playoffs were already here.

Newport Harbor, led by another all-around effort by junior outside hitter Ella Olson, beat San Clemente in three sets Tuesday at Newport Harbor High: 25-14, 25-23 and 25-23.

Newport Harbor will take a 25-8 record into the playoffs. The Sailors, who finished second to Los Alamitos in the Sunset Lea

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