Boys volleyball: Six locals All-CIF

Six senior boys volleyball standouts who competed for Back Bay high

schools Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor have been named All-CIF

Southern Section in their respective divisions by section coaches.

Newport-Mesa District Player of the Year Blake Tippett, as well as

Newport Harbor teammate Christian Berg-Hansen, are first-team honorees in

Division III.

CdM stalwarts Brian Gallagher and Forrest Mack are on the Division IV

first team, while senior teammates Evan Burden and Charlie Alshuler are

second-team picks.

In addition, Corona del Mar High head man Steve Conti is the Division

IV Coach of the Year, after guiding the Pacific Coast League co-champions

to their fifth straight section title match, a three-game defeat to

perennial power Santa Ynez.

Tippett, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter, shared Most Valuable Player honors

in the Sea View League. He plans to continue his career at USC.

Berg-Hansen, a 6-foot-5 middle blocker, blossomed for Coach Dan

Glenn’s Sailors this spring, helping them advance to the Division III

semifinals. He was a first-team All-Sea View League performer and an

all-district honoree.

Gallagher, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter, was the Sea Kings’ consistent

kill leader this season, en route to all-district and All-PCL

recognition. He plans to play at UC Santa Cruz.

Mack, an imposing 6-7 middle blocker, played some of his best

volleyball in the postseason. A second-team all-league selection, Mack

was also all-district. He will play next season at Orange Coast College.

Burden, a 5-10 setter bound for USC, was the Most Valuable Player in

the PCL. He was another all-district choice.

Alshuler, a 6-2 outside hitter, was first-team All-PCL and a member of

the all-district squad. He plans to play collegiately for the club team

at Michigan.

Tippett, Berg-Hansen, Gallagher, Mack, Burden and Alshuler also played

in the Dave Mohs Memorial Orange County All-Star Match, in which Conti

coached.