DREAM TEAM

Rick Devereux

Brett Perrine was close to unstoppable for the Newport Harbor High

boys volleyball team.

The 6-foot-6 senior outside hitter essentially carried the Sailors

to a CIF Southern Section Division I quarterfinal berth as the

featured weapon for setter Ted Slater.

“We didn’t try to fool people,” Coach Dan Glenn said. “But he has

the ability to move around, so, even if you know we are going to set

him, you might not know where we are going to set him.”

Perrine was effective from the right side, the left side, the

middle, even the back row. It didn’t matter if there was one blocker

or two. Perrine was able to make his attacks count.

That’s one reason why he will be playing for UCLA next season and

why he was chosen as Player of the Year on the Daily Pilot’s

Newport-Mesa Dream Team.

Perrine, like the six other Dream Team selections, has the

versatility to play multiple positions.

“He is obviously good at attacking, but he could be a setter

because he has great hands,” Glenn said. “He played middle blocker

for us when he was a freshman and he is very good as an opposite

hitter.”

Joining Perrine are Slater, Corona del Mar’s Tom and Kevin Welch,

Estancia’s Trevor Holmes and Dallas Kopp, as well as Costa Mesa’s

Ryan Bagwell.

Slater, a 6-4 junior setter, started with big shoes to fill trying

to take over the job left vacant when Adam Schlesinger graduated and

signed on with Long Beach State. Slater might have started the season

slowly, but his determination quickly translated into success for the

Sailors.

“This is Ted’s first year setting, but he has a great work ethic,”

Glenn said. “As he improved, the team improved. Once he started to

feel more comfortable, it really helped out Perrine and the team

started to win.”

Newport Harbor won six straight and 11 of 13 at the end of the

year.

Slater is more than just a set-up guy. His height makes him a

force at the net.

“His blocking ability really makes a big difference,” Glenn said.

“It means the other team doesn’t have a small guy to pick on when

he’s in front row.”

Kevin Welch is a three-time Dream Team selection for CdM. The

senior outside hitter had the ability to take over matches, whether

attacking, blocking or serving. He helped led the Sea Kings to the

team’s third straight undefeated Pacific Coast League title, as well

as the CIF Division II title.

Tom, a repeat Dream Team selection, had as much success as his

brother attacking defenses. The senior also had the ability to set

the ball if necessary.

Holmes, a 6-1 setter, is also a repeat Dream Team honoree. The

senior was the only returning starter from last year’s CIF Division

III championship team, but he led the Eagles to a second straight

undefeated Golden West League title and the Division III semifinals.

Holmes had 338 assists in 12 league matches, but his ability to

attack the net has been a huge factor in the team’s success. He was

fourth on the team with 54 kills in league.

Kopp, a 6-5 middle blocker, was a main target for Holmes. The

junior was second on the team with 107 kills in league and led the

Eagles with a .440 hitting percentage, remarkably high for a middle

blocker.

Kopp was also one Estancia’s best passers, despite his duties at

the net, as Coach Tracey Ingraham left him in the rotation in the

back row because of his ability to dig balls.

Bagwell, a 6-4 junior, led the Mustangs with 221 kills and 50

service aces from his outside hitter position, but he can play any

position.

“He’s our best overall player,” Coach Dave Sorrells said.