Tippett selected captain

Former Newport Harbor High boys volleyball standout Blake Tippett

has earned a spot on the United States men’s junior national team and

was named captain by U.S. Coach John Speraw, a UCLA assistant coach.

Tippett, a powerful 6-foot-4 outside hitter, was Newport Harbor

Coach Dan Glenn’s top player in 2001, when the Sailors finished 13-8

and reached the CIF Southern Section Division III semifinals. Newport

Harbor, which lost to Mater Dei in the semifinals, was seeded No. 1

in the playoffs.

Tippett, of Newport Beach, is one of three Orange County players

on the junior national team, which is competing this week in the

Norcica Continental Championships in Kelowna, British Columbia.

Patrick Nihipali (Yorba Linda) and Paul Munoz (Huntington Beach) are

also Orange Countians on the 12-player squad.