Sailor duo takes over league match

The Newport Harbor High girls volleyball team continued its winning

ways since returning from Chicago, defeating Foothill, 25-17, 25-22,

25-19, Wednesday in a Sea View League match at Newport Harbor High.

Not that Sailor Coach Dan Glenn is happy with the way the team has

played in their first two league games this week.

“Right now we just have to focus on getting better,” Glenn said.

“We really haven’t produced since Chicago. I thought we played some

of our best volleyball in Chicago. We haven’t had much of a chance to

practice since we got back. We just need to get back in the gym and

get back to basics.”

Despite not firing on all cylinders, the Sailors had more than

enough to dispose of the Knights. Senior Bryana Carey and sophomore

Jamie Heenan led the charge for the Sailors. Carey tallied eight

kills, four aces and three blocks and Heenan added seven kills and

three aces.

“Those two I thought played really well,” Glenn said

Heenan had four kills as the Sailors won a close game two.

Foothill’s Alyssa Valentine had four aces in the middle of the game

to pull the Knights (2-7, 1-1) to within 21-20. Newport regained the

lead when Megan Munce halted her swing and tapped the ball over

Foothill’s front row and to the floor. Cassidy Gayner clinched the

victory with a kill to give the Sailors a 2-0 lead in the match.

“I thought we played with a lot of speed, and that created a lot

of energy for us,” Carey said. “Chicago left us a little tired but we

definitely stepped up today to finish up.”

Newport trailed, 15-14, in the third game before Heenan’s kill

tied it at 15. The Sailors outscored the Knights, 10-4, down the

stretch to secure the sweep.

The Sailors (8-6, 2-0) tallied 12 aces overall and made just nine

errors.

“That really helped us,” Glenn said. “When your aces outnumber

your errors, it’s pretty good.”

After pulling out a tight victory against Woodbridge Monday and

sweeping Foothill, Newport appears to be on the fast track to the Sea

View League title.

“We’ll have our hands full at Woodbridge, and Aliso Niguel has

been playing well,” Glenn said. “But our biggest opponent is

ourselves.”

Newport has no shortage of confidence as it heads into the heart

of the season.

“I think we have a very good shot at winning our league if we come

out with fire and intensity,” Carey said. “And hopefully that will

carry into the playoffs.”