Shadowlands

Looking back, 5 years ago this week:

Estancia High basketball and volleyball star Sam Nelson is named

the Pacific Coast League’s Male Athlete of the Year. is a two-time

league MVP and back-to-back selection as Newport-Mesa District Player

of the Year in basketball. The 6-foot-5 redhead also earns All-PCL

laurels in each of his final two volleyball seasons. Nelson averages

22.9 points as a senior and scored 1,440 points in 85 varsity games.

Costa Mesa High’s Julie Collett, who stars in softball, volleyball

and basketball for four years, is recognized as the PCL’s Female

Athlete of the Year. She earns all-league laurels in three sports and

is named All-CIF, along with gaining Newport-Mesa District Player of

the Year honors in softball as a freshman while sharing the latter

honor as a junior. She becomes the first female athlete to be named

district player of the year in two sports, sharing top honors in

basketball during her senior season. Wendell Pickens, Orange Coast

College’s original athletic director and first head baseball coach,

dies following a lengthy illness. The longtime Irvine resident is 86.

Newport Harbor overcomes a 2-0 deficit to defeat host Santa

Margarita, 10-15, 14-16, 15-8, 15-9, 15-13, for the Sea View League

boys volleyball championship. Ty Tramblie, a 5-foot-10 junior,

provides the spark for the Sailors (14-0, 7-0 in league), who are

ranked No. 1 in Orange County. Tramblie dives on the court to keep

balls alive and frequently blocks much taller players. Matt Jameson

leads the Tars with 32 kills while Scott Archbold pounds 27. Tramblie

posts 14 digs, nine kills and four blocks.

Looking back, 10 years ago this week:

Seniors Ryan Tomales and Mark McAnlis each make their inaugural

appearances for the Newport Harbor boys volleyball team as it defeats

Back Bay rival, Corona del Mar, 15-10, 15-9, 15-5, in a Sea View

League match. Newport (11-3, 11-1 in league) wins its eighth

consecutive match, after erasing a 7-1 CdM lead in Game 1. Junior

outside hitter Mitch McCoy records six of his match-high 14 kills in

the opening game as Newport comes from behind to pull it out. Middle

blocker Rob Meserve (six kills) puts the Sailors ahead for good,

11-10, with a block before senior setter Eric Vallely slams a kill

and tallies two scoring blocks at the end of the first game. CdM

(6-9, 6-7) pulls to within 10-9 in the second game, but the Sailors

score five unanswered points to end it. Brooks Hoppe leads CdM with

nine kills while Brad Callahan adds seven kills and two blocks. --

compiled by Bryce Alderton