Boys volleyball: Sailors win easily in three

NEWPORT BEACH - Being ranked No. 1 in Orange County can work

wonders for a team, mainly present an imposing presence. The Newport

Harbor High boys volleyball team, which is undefeated in the Sea View

League, made quick work of visiting Laguna Hills, 15-5, 15-2, 15-6,

Thursday, when the Hawks committed several errors and the Sailors (19-5,

7-0 in league) pounced on them.

It took all of 40 minutes for Newport to dispatch of Laguna Hills, as

senior Greg Perrine and sophomore Jaime Diefenbach posted seven kills

each for the winners.

“We played in rhythm and forced them to make mistakes,” said Newport

Coach Dan Glenn, who showed enthusiasm for the rest of his team’s

schedule. “We have the Santa Barbara Tournament. And (Tuesday) we have

Woodbridge for the league championship, and then we have Corona del Mar

(Friday) for the city championship and we’re excited about that, too.”

Newport went on a 10-3 run to end Game 1, when junior Nick Kelly

served for five straight points. Newport junior Mike McDonald served for

seven straight points, including two aces, two serves that were not

returned and one return that Perrine put away for a kill, leading to an

easy Game 2 win.

Newport, the No. 2 seed, opens the Santa Barbara Tournament, facing

Dos Pueblos today at 3 p.m.

-- by Steve Virgen