DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:Dunlap not content with status

Weston Dunlap is still a work-in-progress as a volleyball player.

The Newport Harbor High senior believes it, and Sailors Coach Dan Glenn believes it.

But that doesn’t mean Dunlap isn’t already outright dominant at times for the Tars. The 6-foot-7 middle blocker showed that on March 30 in a big five-game win at Fountain Valley.

Dunlap had 24 kills, six blocks and one service ace in that match. In the ultra-competitive Sunset League, which is only guaranteed three CIF Southern Section Division I playoff spots, Glenn said it was a crucial win for the Sailors (11-9, 2-2 in league).

“He played fantastic,” Glenn said. “He played kind of like he did at the end of the basketball season. He refused to let us lose, and that was a big match for us.”

Dunlap, the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week, also had a team-high 17 kills and three blocks in the Sailors’ four-game league win over Edison on March 27.

The UCLA-bound senior wants his final months at Newport Harbor to be remembered.

As Glenn alluded to, he gave Tars basketball fans something to remember this year, averaging over 18 points per game in Newport’s three CIF Southern Section Division I playoff games.

But in hoops, he was on a team with 10 other seniors. In volleyball, the Sailors have just three other seniors.

“The team chemistry isn’t as great,” said Dunlap, who is a volleyball team captain along with Kyle Caldwell and Boyd Grubbs. “It’s pretty much split; there’s a lot of juniors. We have a lot of experience from club teams, but not necessarily together on the high school team. I think that’s another reason we’ll get better in the future.”

Ah yes, getting better. For Dunlap, it’s something the three-year varsity player always wants to do.

“I could definitely work on my hitting and blocking,” he said. “It’s not where I want it to be right now, but I think I’ve improved since the season started.”

When you can’t get the passes right where you want them, hitting becomes difficult.

So expect Dunlap to keep getting better and better, partially because Caldwell, the Sailors’ 6-foot-8 junior setter, just returned from a foot injury this week.

“I guess a lot of the time, the team has been kind of waiting for him to come back,” Dunlap said. “I’m used to having Kyle block on the right side with me. It made things harder without him.”

Just like on the basketball team, where the Tars seemingly went as far as the big guys could take them. And even if it was a quick transition from basketball to volleyball, Glenn is happy to see Dunlap hooping it up.

He said he sees the situation as similar to that of Brett Perrine and Jamie Diefenbach, who both also played basketball at Newport Harbor and have gone on to play volleyball at UCLA.

“It’s just like them,” Glenn said. “By playing basketball, in the long run, [Dunlap’s] going to be a better volleyball player. I’m just hoping he plays like he did in the basketball playoffs.”

Glenn said Dunlap is already very aggressive offensively, and moves well side to side.

He is currently trying to help work on Dunlap’s straight-up blocking game.

“He’s just kind of scratching the surface of where he’s going to be as a volleyball player,” Glenn said. “He’s got a great career ahead at UCLA.”

Dunlap said he hopes he has a great ending to his volleyball career at Newport Harbor, too.

He said it was a “huge disappointment” last year, when the Sailors were ranked No. 1 in Division I for part of the season but lost in the first round to Capistrano Valley.

“Our coach always talks about that this year’s team has to kind of learn from last year,” Dunlap said. “We have to end the season playing our best volleyball.”

There is still time, but back-to-back three-game losses against Esperanza this week show Newport Harbor just how much progress it still needs to make.

Sunset League teams, however, know that on any night, Dunlap can change things with a huge night.

Just ask Fountain Valley.

“He’s been great for us this year,” Glenn said. “He’s gotten better every year. He’s come a long way since his freshman year, so it’s been fun to see.”

WESTON DUNLAP

Hometown: Newport Beach

Born: May 28, 1989

Height: 6-foot-7

Weight: 195 pounds

Sport: Volleyball

Position: Middle blocker

Coach: Dan Glenn

Favorite food: Pasta

Favorite movie: “Billy Madison”

Favorite athletic moment: Being named MVP at last year’s Orange County Championships, which Newport Harbor won.

Week in review: Had a combined 41 kills and nine blocks in Sunset League-opening wins over Fountain Valley and Edison.