Newport sails into quarterfinals

Newport Harbor High’s girls volleyball team sailed through pool

play at the Nike Challenge in Chicago, hosted by Mother McCauley

High, with 15-10, 15-5 and 15-5, 15-9 victories over St. Ignatius of

Illinois and Pius XI of Wisconsin, respectively, Friday.

The twin victories sends Coach Dan Glenn’s Sailors into today’s

quarterfinal against Downers Grove South at 10:15 a.m., and if

successful, defending tournament champion Assumption of Kentucky most

likely awaits in the semifinals at 12:45 p.m. The finals of the

24-team, two-day tournament is 5 p.m.

Kristin McClune was the spearhead in the first match on Friday,

logging 20 kills in the 45-minute match. Allyson Jennings had six

kills, Lauren Miller had five kills and Elizabeth Clayton had three

kills.

Balance was the name of the game for Harbor against Wisconsin’s

No. 1-rated Pius XI.

McClune (12), Miller (11) and Jennings (10) accounted for 33

kills.

PREPS: Mesa sweeps

The Costa Mesa girls volleyball team continued its undefeated

season in the Golden West League as it swept Estancia Friday, 15-12,

15-12, 15-10, at Costa Mesa High.

Sharon Day led the Mustangs (4-2, 3-0 in league) with 14 kills and

Jenny Sparks led the team with 18 assists as Emily Abbott had three

aces and 11 digs. Day contributed three blocks.

Estancia is now 1-6, 1-3 in league.

COLLEGE: UCI rolls

UC Irvine’s women’s volleyball team breezed at Cal State Fullerton

Friday night, besting the titans, 30-22, 30-20, 30-23, in Big West

Conference play.

The Anteaters presented a balanced attack with four players in

double figures in the kill category.

Kelly Wing led with 15 kills, while Chanda McLeod (12), Dana

Kurzbad (10) and Rebecca Larsen (10) shared the spotlight.

Ashlie Hain was credited with 46 assists for the Anteaters, who

improved to 8-6, 2-3 in the Big West.

Fullerton, winless in four Big West starts, sunk to 4-13 overall.

UCI is at UC Riveside tonight, at 7, for a nonconference duel.

JC: OCC sweeps

Freshman outside hitter Michelle Zapiain had nine blocks to lead

No. 2-ranked Orange Coast to a 30-20, 30-28, 30-25 victory over the

University of Baja California Friday night in the OCC gym.

The Pirates’ Zapiain, Krystle Davis and Jessica Lippi combined for

six solo blocks and 17 block assists to help the Bucs take care of

the visitors from south of the border.

Davis had another solid all-around game, adding seven kills and

five service aces to her blocking totals. Nicole Buckley had six

kills and three aces, while Lippi and Elisha Counts combined for 33

assists.

Melissa Sherman led the Coast defense with 11 digs.

Orange Coast (6-0) visits Santa Ana in the Orange Empire

Conference opener on Wednesday at 7 p.m.