Volleyball: OCVBC in Volleyball Festival, a success

Charlie Brande

The Orange County Volleyball Club experienced a very successful

tournament at the 2001 Volleyball Festival held during the last week of

June. With over 950 teams from the United States, the week long

tournament also featured teams from Samoa and Italy.

The Italian 16-and-under team actually adopted the Orange County

Volleyball Club 16 Blue team and asked for their uniforms after the

championship match.

The Orange County 16 Blue team, coached by Jim Downey and Paul Woo who

both teach at Calvary Chapel High, built momentum throughout the week and

peaked for their 16-and-under title match against Nike Northwest of

Portland. The 16 Blue team had lost a close match to Nike Northwest

before beating Nike in another close match in the winner’s bracket

finals. This set up the finals match which was played at UC Davis before

a crowd of over 5,000 fans. Orange County manhandled the Portland team in

the final in two games.

Led by Newport Harbor’s Alyson Jennings, Emily Turner, Claire Allen

and Kristin McClune, as well as Andrea Collins and Amanda Gittleman, the

Orange County team played with tremendous confidence and awareness to

defeat the top-seeded team from Oregon.

With six freshmen on the team in an age group of sophomores and

freshmen, the future looks great for next year’s team.

Emily Turner was forced to play the libero position because of a

stress fracture in her ankle which limited her frontcourt play. She

dominated the backcourt with her athleticism, ball control and

understanding of the game.

The 14-and-under division featured two teams with local talent in the

top four. Saddleback Volleyball Club, coached by George Carey (father of

former Newport Harbor star, Jennifer Carey), finished second, while

Orange County Volleyball Club 14 Blue, coached by Gary Nakamura, was

fourth.

Saddleback, led by Brianne Carey and Taryn Tarnutzer, lost to Temecula

Valley in the final. A semifinal match between Orange County and

Saddleback was thrilling with Saddleback pulling out a close 28-30,

30-15, 15-13 three-game victory.

Orange County featured future Corona del Mar High players, Ashley

Marks, Brianne Ogden and Britta Nielsen, as well as Newport’s Stephanie

Trinen. Outside hitter Jordan Smith and setter Bailey Robinson were also

keys to the Orange County success.

The Orange County Nike 18s finished ninth. Their very successful

tournament was marred only by losses to the Spoilers (a finalist) and to

Saddleback 18s, which finished fourth.

Seniors Heather Cullen (a Newport Harbor product bound for UCLA) and

Casey Petersen (a Costa Mesa product bound for Orange Coast) were

instrumental in Nike’s success.

The Newport Harbor girls’ team should be very strong again this year.

The three starters on the OCVBC 16 Blue national champions will make a

major impact. Middle blocker Kristin McClune reminds many of former

Newport star Krista Dill.

Nike’s Christine Woller as well as Andrea Trinen and Lindsay Thayer,

from the Orange County 18s, have improved tremendously.

Liz Lord and Katie King helped their Goldenwest club team to a club

championship at the Junior National Championships.

Corona del Mar with new head coach Bill Christianson should also be

strong. Setter Jacqueline Becker is a great competitor who has worked

very hard and has greatly improved her setting skills. Katie Duggan

returns to start for her third year. Claire Allen has transferred from

Newport.

She will provide the strength at the net as well as a competitive

attitude that will charismatically improve team chemistry. Morgan and

Jordan Smith are in the process of transferring from Mater Dei and will

give CdM two more players that can play the game.

The fall season will be another outstanding one for the local teams.

The high schools show great potential.

Orange Coast College women will field one of their best team in years.

The UC Irvine women’s volleyball team should also be very much improved.

It will be a great time for fans to enjoy volleyball success at each

of these levels.