Tars defend title in Hawaii
Barry Faulkner
HONOLULU, Hawaii - The Newport Harbor High girls volleyball team
defeated former Sea View League rival Santa Margarita, 10-7, 14-8, in the
championship match Saturday to defend its crown at the 17th annual Iolani
Invitational.
The Sailors, with All-CIF senior outside hitter April Ross sharing
setting duties with sophomore Katie King, rolled through their pool and
knocked Santa Margarita into the loser’s bracket with an 11-6, 15-11
triumph in the winner’s bracket final.
Coach Dan Glenn’s defending CIF Southern Section Division I-AA and
State Division I champion became the first school in tournament history
to win back-to-back titles.
Glenn said he used his entire roster in the eight matches, in which
games were limited to 20 minutes. In addition to Ross, who hit when she
was in the front row, Glenn praised the play of King, Krista Dill,
Heather Cullen, Erin Haller, Andrea Schutz and Taylor Govaars.
There was no all-tournament team and no tournament MVP was chosen. But
the 6-foot-1 Ross, who has narrowed her recruiting choices to Hawaii,
UCLA, USC, Washington and Texas A&M;, displayed new versatility for Hawaii
Coach Dave Shoji, who was in attendance.
Glenn said the Tars also watched Shoji’s Rainbow Wahini squad, for
which 1999 Newport Harbor graduate Jennifer Carey has assumed the
starting setter role, scrimmage. The Sailors also took a tour of the UH
facilities.
The Sailors, who adjusted their dead period to include the tournament
in their summer schedule, are scheduled to return to Orange County today
and will take a week off, before beginning practice for the upcoming
season Monday.
TOURNAMENT RESULTS
POOL PLAY
Newport Harbor def. King Kekaulike (Hawaii), 15-5, 15-10.
Newport Harbor def. Maryknoll (Hawaii), 15-8, 14-8.
Newport Harbor def. Roosevelt (Hawaii), 15-2, 15-8.
Newport Harbor def. Buena (California), 15-5, 15-7.
WINNER’s BRACKET
QUARTERFINALS Newport Harbor def. Pearl City (Hawaii), 15-1, 15-4.
SEMIFINALS
Newport Harbor def. Hilo (Hawaii), 15-11, 15-5.
FINAL
Newport Harbor def. Santa Margarita, 11-6, 15-11.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Newport Harbor def. Santa Margarita, 10-7, 14-8.
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