Oilers survive Sailors

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- After a night filled with comeback rallying, the

Newport Harbor High girls volleyball team fell to host Huntington

Beach, 26-24, 25-23, 25-21, in an exciting nonleague game Wednesday.

The Sailors (2-3) were led by junior talent Bryana Carey, a

second-team All-Sea View League middle blocker last season who

finished the night with eight kills and four aces. Sophomore Jamie

Heenan also had four aces to go along with her eight kills.

Setter Megan Munce and Megan Toman added six kills each, while

Munce tallied five blocks and Toman had four.

“In the first game we were really nervous, but we came out really

strong,” said Carey. “We have pride in our program and right now

we’re trying to prove ourselves because we all worked really hard to

get on this team.”

Freshman middle blocker Mary Buckingham finished with four kills

and two blocks, while Coco Yokoyama a second-team all-league

returner, finished with two kills.

Huntington (4-1) was led by Shannon Hybl (14 kills) and Felicia

Ciarelli, who had 27 assists.

In the first two games, the Sailors struck quickly, jumping out to

a 4-1 lead in both games. In the first, Newport fell behind when

hitting a crucial slump after leading, 11-9. The Oilers took

advantage of unforced errors, creating a 22-15 lead. Newport rallied

to within to 24-23, but fell.

In the second game, the script was the same as the first. After

Newport gained an early lead, the Oilers tied the game at 9. The

Sailors regained their composure with key kills by Carey, taking back

control, and bringing them within 20-18. The Oilers rallied, tying

the game at 23, and took a late two point lead for the win.

“[Huntington Beach] is a good team. In the second game, we just

let them off the hook,” said Sailor Coach Dan Glenn. “We have the

fundamentals down, and now we’re just learning to compete.”