Boys volleyball: Tars ready for big challenge

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - The Newport Harbor High boys volleyball team is

healthy, hungry, experienced and talented. In addition, a quirk of fate

has also set up a CIF Southern Section Division II field worthy of Coach

Dan Glenn’s respect.

In other words, Glenn has his Sailors right where he wants them as

they prepare for Wednesday’s nonleague opener against visiting Fountain

Valley.

“Even though we made it to the (CIF Division III) semifinals last year

(before losing in five to Mater Dei to finish 13-8), we really didn’t

play anybody (in the playoffs),” Glenn said. “This year, I think of the

10 best teams in CIF, eight of them are in our division. To me, that’s

the best thing about our situation this year.”

The Sailors’ situation has plenty of other positives, including the

return of 6-foot-3 senior outside hitter Brian Gaeta, who missed all of

last season after surgery to correct tendon problems in both knees.

Greg Perrine, a 6-1 senior outside hitter, also came through offseason

surgery to reconstruct a torn ACL in time to lead the basketball team to

its first outright league championship since 1985.

“Coming off their injuries, I think both of them appreciate playing

much more,” Glenn said of his dangerous hitting duo, which, he believes

is as good a pair of outside hitters as he has had in this, his 17th

season at the Sailors helm.

“I tell people I have two All-CIF outside hitters, even though Gaeta

was All-CIF in football and Perrine (is expected to be recognized) in

basketball,” Glenn said.

“Brian did not play a sport after football, so he has had time to get

his touch back. The best thing about him is that he’s such a competitor.

And they didn’t operate on that.”

Perrine was second-team All-Sea View League in volleyball as a junior.

Erik Peterson, a 6-3 senior, is another returning starter, though

Glenn plans to move him from middle blocker to the right side. He began

practice last week after helping the basketball team reach the second

round of the CIF Division II-AA playoffs.

And, finally, senior Loyd Wright returns to trigger the attack, his

third season as a varsity setter.

“People aren’t really talking about Loyd, but he was MVP of the Orange

County Championships (which the Sailors won) last year,” Glenn said. “He

has been starting since he was a sophomore and he’s one of those kids who

is just a volleyball guy. That has allowed him to play a lot more

volleyball than some of our other guys. You need some experience in that

position and he brings that to the court for us. I’m also very excited to

have talked (former All-CIF Sailor setter) Russell Gan, into helping work

with Loyd. Loyd is already responding very well to Russell. Plus, I’m

usually very hard on my setters, so it’s good to have a buffer there.”

Wright was first-team all-league and All-Newport-Mesa District as a

junior.

Jaime Diefenbach, a 6-8 sophomore, is back and will start in the

middle, while 6-3 junior middle blocker Paul Toman will round out the

starting lineup that will be asked to step up after the graduation of

Newport-Mesa District Player of the Year and Sea View Co-MVP Blake

Tippett.

“Last year was a real learning year for Jaime,” Glenn said. “Since he

mainly focuses on basketball, he’ll continue to learn the game this year,

too. It will take some time, but I expect him to be playing good

volleyball toward the end of the season.

Nick Glassic, a 6-3 junior, will add depth in the middle and can also

play outside, according to Glenn.

Nick Kelly, a 5-10 junior, will provide depth at setter, while seven

others round out the deepest roster Glenn has had at Harbor.

Seniors Matt Casserly and Redge Bendheim are varsity returners, while

seniors Dane Louvier and Jim Rothwell, as well as juniors Michael Toole,

Mike McDonald and Paul Liebermann, will battle for playing time while

helping to keep practices competitive.

The Sailors are favored to return to the top of the Sea View League.

They finishing second last spring to Irvine after winning or sharing the

Sea View crown the previous four seasons.

Another rugged schedule, which includes a Back Bay showdown with

Corona del Mar May 3, also includes a marquee week in which the Tars

visit reigning CIF Division III champion Santa Margarita (March 19), then

host reigning CIF Division II champion Mira Costa (March 22).

Newport Harbor boys volleyball

2 Brian Gaeta 6-3 Sr.

11 Greg Perrine 6-1 Sr.

12 Erik Peterson 6-3 Sr.

13 Loyd Wright 6-2 Sr.

15 Jaime Diefenbach 6-8 So.

7 Paul Toman 6-3 Jr.

1 Nick Glassic 6-3 Jr.

3 Nick Kelly 5-10 Jr.

4 Matt Casserly 6-0 Sr.

5 Redge Bendheim 5-10 Sr.

6 Dane Louvier 6-0 Sr.

8 Michael Toole 6-0 Jr.

9 Mike McDonald 6-0 Jr.

17 Paul Liebermann 6-2 Sr.

25 Jim Rothwell 5-10 Sr.

Coach: Dan Glenn