Girls volleyball: Tars defeat Sea Kings in four

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - Even as Newport Harbor High’s girls volleyball team

cruised past Back Bay rival Corona del Mar in four games, Sailors Coach

Dan Glenn wasn’t at ease until a victory was wrapped up Thursday night.

“I’ve been in too many (Newport-CdM matches) to know that anybody can

came back at any time,” said Glenn, whose team (5-2) needed less than two

hours to defeat CdM, 15-7, 10-15, 15-7, 15-5, in a nonleague match at

Newport Harbor.

In the second game, the Sailors built a 10-3 lead and Glenn began

substituting players.

But Corona del Mar (4-2) took advantage and the momentum shifted, as

Coach Steve Conti’s Sea Kings rallied to tie the match, 1-1, with strong passing and digging in the comeback win.

“We need to do those things more consistently, but the effort and

heart we put into this match really hurt us,” Conti said. “Our effort was

nil. There’s no doubt which team was ready.

“There were a couple of things that really killed us tonight, not

playing with heart being the biggest thing. We came out flat and quiet

... it was almost like we got stung.”

Senior outside hitter Taylor Govaars led Newport Harbor with 19 kills

and 10 digs, while junior middle blocker Liz Lord had 13 kills, five

kills and three blocks for the Sailors, who were playing without 6-foot

junior Christine Woller (ankle sprain).

“That’s a great win for us, playing without (Woller), who has been

doing a nice job,” Glenn said. “The seniors stepped up tonight and

Govaars played great. When we’re passing, we can spread things out.”

Getting in on much of the action for Newport Harbor, the two-time

defending State Division I champion, was freshman Alyson Jennings (nine

kills), 6-2 junior Kristin McClune (seven) and junior setter Katie King

(47 assists and seven digs).

Lauren Bald, a senior setter, came off the bench for Newport Harbor

and produced seven digs and some excellent serving, especially in the

third game when the Tars’ lead increased from 7-6 to 14-6 with Bald

behind the line.

“We’ve accomplished a lot (as a program), but since I’ve been the

coach (the last four years), this is one of the things we haven’t done,”

Conti said of beating Newport Harbor. “How I feel personally is that

there’s some unfinished business on my part.”

Corona del Mar was led by Jacqueline Becker, Lindsey Anstandig and

Katie Duggan, but Newport Harbor had too much firepower up front.

CdM led in the first game, 4-3, but an ace by King helped spark

Newport, which came back with leads of 10-4 and 13-5 before winning.

In the third game, CdM led early again, 4-2, but the Tars rallied

after holding a slim 7-6 edge.

In the fourth, Colby George had a pair of service winners for Newport

Harbor, while Govaars added an ace and four kills as the Sailors won

easily.