Boys volleyball: Tars should be highly evolved

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - While most experts believe it takes generations for

the evolutionary process to unfold, Newport Harbor High boys volleyball

coach Dan Glenn has learned to condense it into about three months.

Though his roster typically includes those who play other sports,

often limiting their volleyball focus to the spring, Glenn continually

molds his collection of athletes into polished teams that make a habit of

long postseason runs.

After back-to-back trips to the CIF Southern Section Division I title

match, Glenn is at it again this season.

“I like my players,” said Glenn, in his 15th year at the Sailors helm.

“It’s just a matter of learning where to put them.”

Glenn’s puzzle became a little more complicated when junior Brian

Gaeta was sidelined for the season by surgery to repair both patellar

tendons.

“Losing Brian really hurts us,” said Glenn, who has managed to

overcome season-ending injuries and defections the last several years,

including the CIF Division I championship campaign in 1999.

The Sailors will also miss graduated All-CIF standouts Billy Clayton

(now at Stanford) and Kent Turner, as well as departed All-Newport-Mesa

District performer Dustin Illingworth.

Blake Tippett, a 6-foot-3 senior outside hitter, however, returns

after earning all-district laurels last spring and Glenn believes he’ll

be the team’s marquee player.

“He’ll be one of the best outside hitters in Orange County,”’ Glenn

said. “He played on the national youth team as a libero, so he’s a really

good passer. And he’ll be our go-to hitter.”

Tippett had a team-high 38 kills in the Tars’ season-opening five-game

loss at Fountain Valley Wednesday.

Other key returners include juniors Greg Perrine, Erik Peterson and

Lloyd Wright, as well as senior Christian Berg-Hansen.

Wright opened last season as the starting setter, before a broken

thumb sidelined him for the season. He had 83 assists against Fountain

Valley.

Perrine, a basketball standout and a 6-0 outside hitter, had 18 kills

in the opener, while junior Morgan Craig, a 6-2 outside hitter and the

football team’s quarterback, added 13.

The 6-3 Petersen, a starter for the basketball team, will begin the

season in the middle, along with the 6-5 Berg-Hansen.

“That’s a pretty good starting group,” Glenn said.

Seniors Aaron Yarnal and Steve Young are also expected to contribute,

as should 6-8 sophomore Nedim Pajevic and 6-7 freshman Jamie Diefenbach.

All four were varsity basketball players over the winter.

“Nedim can play right side and I’m working with him on setting,” Glenn

said. “He’s growing into his body and he has some pretty good skills. I

think he could be real, real good.”

Diefenbach adds depth in the middle, as does the 6-2 Young, while

Yarnal, 6-1 with a 36-inch vertical leap, will help at outside hitter.

Juniors Redge Bendheim and Matt Casserly, as well as sophomore Nick

Kelly, are additional outside hitters at Glenn’s disposal.

“It’s kind of a whole new look,” Glenn said. “We’re a little behind

skill wise, but, athletically, we can go up against anyone.”

Glenn said Irvine, which shared the Sea View League title with the

Sailors last spring, should provide the stiffest league competition this

year, as well.

Newport Harbor roster

1 Aaron Yarnal 6-1 Sr.

2 Brian Gaeta 6-2 Jr.

3 Nick Kelly 5-9 So.

4 Matt Casserly 6-1 Jr.

5 Redge Bendheim 5-10 Jr.

6 Morgan Craig 6-2 Jr.

7 Blake Tippett 6-3 Sr.

8 Christian Berg-Hansen 6-5 Sr.

11 Greg Perrine 6-0 Jr.

12 Erik Peterson 6-3 Jr.

13 Lloyd Wright 6-0 Jr.

15 Jamie Diefenbach 6-7 Fr.

24 Steve Young 6-2 Sr.

33 Nedim Pajevic 6-8 So.

Coach: Dan Glenn