Tars’ sweep is carbon copy

Barry Faulkner

Newport Harbor High boys volleyball coach Dan Glenn believes his

Sailors got better this week. But with a scheduling anomaly that

matched them twice against Sea View League also-ran Aliso Niguel,

those with a less-subjective eye would probably have to take his word

for it.

“We’re the only two schools in the league not on spring break,”

Glenn said of the rare back-to-back clashes that featured a pair of

Newport Harbor sweeps.

The Sailors prevailed, 25-19, 26-24, 26-15, Thursday at home,

after earning a 25-14, 25-21, 25-23 victory Tuesday at the

Wolverines’ gym.

“It’s tough to play the same team twice in one week,” Glenn said.

“We are glad to get by this and get ready for Woodbridge, Thursday at

our place, because we’re going to have to be ready. [The Warriors]

are ranked No. 2 in Orange County.”

The Sailors (12-6, 4-0 in league) used last week’s break to allow

injuries to starters Brett Perrine (back) and Jon Langford (stomach)

to improve, Glenn said.

Perrine, a 6-foot-6 junior, appeared at or near his best Thursday,

matching senior Morgan Govaars with a match-high 12 kills and adding

a pair of ace serves.

“He’s doing some things to help us,” Glenn said of Perrine, who

saw spot duty at setter and had a handful of scoring runs from the

service line.

Glenn also praised the passing of Govaars, which helped the hosts

nearly double Aliso in kills, 43-24.

Senior setter Adam Schlesinger, whom Glenn credited with improved

play, collected 29 assists, to help the Tars overcome 10 service

errors.

Langford and Gavin Galey added six kills apiece for the winners,

who will visit Laguna Hills Tuesday before hosting the battle of

league unbeatens with Woodbridge.

Newport never trailed Thursday, though the Wolverines prompted

some anxious moments by rallying to tie at 23 and 24 in the second

game.

Perrine, however, pounded consecutive kills to close out the game

and the Sailors built a 10-2 lead in the third game, before cruising

to the sweep.