Sailors adjust, sweep

Bryce Alderton

In 24 hours, Dan Glenn’s job description as Newport Harbor High’s

boys volleyball coach added the word, “juggler.”

There were occasional lapses, but the Sailors essentially stayed

on course and defeated visiting St. John Bosco, 25-10, 25-16, 25-23,

in a first-round CIF Southern Section Division I playoff match Friday

night without one of their most potent weapons.

An MRI performed on junior Brett Perrine, a 6-foot-5 opposite,

revealed a torn meniscus in the right knee, ending his season.

Glenn received the news Thursday and began adjusting lineups in

preparation for St. John Bosco.

“It’s hard this late in the season to make adjustments, but I

thought the new lineup did a good job,” Glenn said. “I was concerned

with this match. [Bosco] went to the CIF [Division I] finals two

years ago.”

The fifth-seeded Sailors (23-7), however, would not be denied

their 16th win in 17 matches, even after trailing, 18-12, in the

third game.

Two quick kills by seniors Jon Langford and setter Adam

Schlesinger revved up Newport fans and the Sailors soon began feeding

off the energy.

Langford’s team-leading fourth stuff block gave the Tars a 24-23

lead, their first in game three since an 11-10 advantage, and the

match ended when a Brave hit into the net.

The Sailors relied on their outside hitters, primarily seniors

Gavin Galey and Morgan Govaars, to take advantage of openings down

the lines.

“They had a big block in the middle so I felt comfortable down the

line,” said Galey, who tallied a team-high 12 kills, the second

straight match he has led the Tars in kills.

Govaars slammed 10 kills while Langford added six and Schlesinger

tallied five.

Galey and Govaars finished with nine and eight digs, respectively.

To make up for the loss of Perrine, sophomores Parker Stevens, a

member of Newport’s junior varsity team that went undefeated in

league, and Brett Auer each saw time at outside hitter beginning in

the second game.

Galey’s stuff block ended the second game, when Newport, still

undefeated at home this season, scored nine of the final 11 points,

riding the experience of four senior starters.

Bosco (16-15), the Serra League’s third-place finisher (4-4), took

its first lead of the third game at 10-9 and gained the

aforementioned 18-12 cushion with the help of five straight unforced

errors by Newport.

But quick sets and consistent ball movement helped the Sailors

regain control.

Chase Kelly and Brad Schneider each had six digs while Schlesinger

tallied five digs.

“[The Sailors] pass well and don’t make a lot of mistakes,” said

first-year Bosco Coach Sidney Davidson. The Sailors next test comes

Tuesday when they face Long Beach Wilson in the second round. A coin

flip will determine the home team.

Senior middle blocker Jamie Diefenbach, who hasn’t played this

season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn anterior

cruciate ligament in his left knee, dressed in uniform for Friday’s

match.

Diefenbach, who stands 6-8 and earned first-team All-Sea View

League laurels last season, hit with teammates during the

intermission between the second and third games.