Sailors send Irvine into a deep sweep

Bryce Alderton

With the injury bug still hovering over the Newport Harbor High girls

volleyball team, Coach Dan Glenn has counted on each of his 12

players to fill in and contribute at one point or another this

season.

That was the case again Tuesday as Glenn used 11 of 12 Sailors, and they responded with a 25-15, 25-14, 25-14 Sea View League victory

over visiting Irvine.

Senior setter Kellie King sat out the sweep over Irvine (5-11, 1-2

in league) with a torn ligament in her right middle finger, allowing

junior Taryn Tarnutzer some time at the position.

Tarnutzer, along with senior Alyson Jennings, anchored the setting

duties for the Sailors (10-4, 3-0). Jennings earned a game-high 18

assists while Tarnutzer tallied six.

Tarnutzer has set in the last three matches, including Tuesday’s,

and said she is getting used to the position after having never

played it in varsity competition. She set for the junior varsity team

before moving up varsity halfway through last season.

But both Glenn and Tarnutzer said they want King to return as soon

as possible.

“Kellie is an integral part of this team and I will be glad to

have her back,” said Tarnutzer, who slammed six kills, along with

Jennings’ six, while junior middle blocker Kiley Hall led the Tars

with seven kills.

After a 6-6 tie in Game 2, Newport scored four consecutive points

on the serving of Tarnutzer and never trailed by more than three the

rest of the game. Senior middle blocker Holland Osadche had three

kills in the game, including a one-hand winner down the middle to

send the Sailors to the third game up, 2-0.

Irvine had leads of 4-2 and 5-3 in the third game, but Newport

senior Elizabeth Clayton jump served five straight points at one

stretch to give the hosts a 10-6 advantage. Kills by junior outside

hitter Alexis Kerns and freshman Coco Yokoyama paved the way for the

Sailors during the run.

Irvine inched within 14-12 after a Newport setting error, but a

Vaquero touched the net on the ensuing point, giving the serve to

Yokoyama. She served four consecutive points to give the Tars some

breathing room and was aided by a kill from junior outside hitter

Stephanie Trinen, who also tallied a service ace during the game.

Senior outside hitters Hannah Lindquist and Emily Turner provided

strong serving.

Kerns, Jennings and senior outside hitter Lauren Miller each

tallied two service aces.

“[Miller] served real well,” Glenn said. “She scored a lot of

points for us.”

Miller and Turner began the season battling tendinitis in the

knees, but are regaining their strength from being able to practice

hard, Glenn said.

He is unsure whether King will be ready to play in Thursday’s

league match against Laguna Hills.

“We are 12 deep and will need all 12 as the season goes along,”

Glenn said.