Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week: Chief operating officer

Barry Faulkner

With a unique Back Bay volleyball background, Kent Turner could be

considered a human rabbit’s foot. But, after playing limited roles for

back-to-back CIF Southern Section champions at Corona del Mar (1998) and

Newport Harbor (‘99), the Sailors’ senior setter believes it’s better to

be good than lucky.

“We had a great team at Corona, but I was a sophomore who basically got

zero playing time,” Turner said. “I had a little more playing time last

year, but I’m really having a lot of fun this year.”

Turner, who transferred voluntarily, because he “wanted something

different,” expected his impact on this year’s Harbor squad would be

swinging away at sets from opposite the setter.

Instead, sophomore setter Lloyd Wright broke his hand early in the

campaign and Coach Dan Glenn called upon Turner to trigger the offense.

“I was excited (coming in) about being a big offensive weapon this

season,” said Turner, who had set sporadically throughout his eight-year

volleyball career, which began as a fifth-grader for the Balboa Bay club

program. For a while, I was a little bummed about setting, but I was

totally stoked to help the team.”

Turner, however, quickly warmed to the position and his leadership and

athleticism are big reasons why the Tars (16-5), shared the Sea View

League title and earned their way to tonight’s CIF Division I semifinal

match against Mira Costa at Redondo Union High.

“I forgot how much fun setting was,” said Turner, who amassed 158

combined assists in playoff victories over San Clemente (May 16) and

top-seeded Marina (Friday) to earn Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week

recognition.

“I still love to hit, but I’m having more fun now than I’d be having as a

hitter. There’s nothing better than completely faking out an (opposing)

middle (blocker). (The position change) has been a blessing in disguise.”

Glenn said Turner’s adjustment to setting has been a blessing for the

team, as well.

“He’s a setter who plays with the mentality of an outside hitter, which

makes it tough, at times,” Glenn said. “But he’s done a really nice job

for us. He’s a tremendous athlete, his setting is getting better and

better, and he keeps a good, positive attitude on the court, which is

key.”

Turner’s leadership justifies his designation as co-captain, but his

on-court contributions are not limited to running the show.

He is still a dangerous weapon if called upon to hit (he had seven kills

against San Clemente), and his arm swing renders him a potentially

devastating jump server.

“I joke with him about him having to get his hitting in from the service

line after moving to setter,” Glenn said. “But he has really been

instrumental for us back there. It seems like every time he serves a

rocket, it has come at a key time.”

Turner had four aces and one service winner against Marina, including an

ace to close out game four, pulling the Sailors even after the Vikings

(17-2) won the first two games.

Though finding the right matchups, running down difficult passes and

delivering the ball to each individual hitter’s liking combine to make

setting one of the more difficult tasks in sports, Turner said Glenn’s

tutelage has helped him handle the responsibility.

“Coach Glenn works hard with me all the time before practice. He gives me

the plan during matches, so I feel like I always know what to do. It

sounds like there’s all this stuff to do, but after you’ve done it

enough, there’s not a lot of thought process involved. I call the plays

coach gives me, then I try to watch where the blockers are. It all

happens in about two seconds, so I don’t stop to debate it with myself.”

There’s little debate Turner has become one of the most effective prep

players still competing. But he does not believe his volleyball career

will continue when he enrolls at USC next fall.

“This is pretty much it for me; my last hurrah,” said Turner, who plans

to study business as a Trojan.

“I’ve always had an interest in business and my goal is to be a

entrepreneur,” Turner said.

It appears this running-the-show thing really has taken hold.