BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL DREAM TEAM:Nielsen like a magician

Maybe it’s more than a coincidence that Corona del Mar High senior Blaine Nielsen shares a name with magician David Blaine.

At times this year, it seemed magical that the Sea Kings’ 6-foot-3 outside hitter could even get on the court for the volleyball team with his knee, ankle and foot injuries this season.

Oh, not to mention a sprained wrist, or a jammed middle finger on his right hand.

“By the second week of practice, he was already coming off injuries,” CdM Coach Steve Conti said. “At one point, you’re asking, ‘How’s this guy going to last the whole season?’ ”

The answer was lots and lots of trips to the training room.

“I was in the training room literally every day, getting taped every day,” Nielsen said. “We had a lot of jokes that I was using a lot of rolls of tape every day.”

But even when other parts of his body didn’t appear up to the challenge, nobody could question Nielsen’s heart.

All season long, the senior battled through the injuries. But when he was on the court, Nielsen, who is the Daily Pilot’s Newport-Mesa Player of the Year, showed his worth.

Nielsen was tournament MVP of the Best of the West Tournament in March, helping jump-start the season for Corona del Mar.

He came back from a foot injury in the regular-season finale, leading the Sea Kings to their second straight win over Back Bay rival Newport Harbor.

And Nielsen came up big at the end, too, tying his season-high with 16 kills in CdM’s four-game win over Santa Barbara in the CIF Southern Section Division II championship match on May 26.

For the season, Nielsen, who will continue his career at UC Santa Barbara, had 273 kills, 129 digs, 20 service aces and 20 blocks.

“In crunch time, he was able to do some things for us,” Conti said. He pointed out that Nielsen was efficient in the championship match, with the 16 kills and just three hitting errors against Santa Barbara. Nielsen also had 11 digs, which was his highest defensive output of the season.

“I think he’s a little bit smarter this year,” Conti said. “That’s exactly what I’d expect him to do, step up as a senior.”

In last year’s Division II championship match, which Valencia won in five games over CdM, Nielsen had 13 kills but also nine hitting errors.

After that loss, it wasn’t exactly hard for Nielsen, a two-year varsity starter, to get fired up for this season. But that fiery nature was an exception on this year’s Sea Kings’ squad, which Conti said was “a pretty quiet team.”

“There’s no question who the vocal leader of this team is,” Conti said. “Blaine’s the one guy who’s always talking in between plays, patting guys on the back.”

It’s the kind of leadership comes naturally to Nielsen, who Conti said was a leader with CdM even when he was a freshman on the junior varsity squad.

Nielsen said he and teammate Spencer Brown were usually the ones to pump up the team.

“Usually in our team meetings, I’m throwing out some speeches,” said Nielsen, who was named Division II first-team All-Amateur Athletic Foundation (as selected by the CIF Southern Section Boys’ Volleyball Coaches Assn.). “Some of them might be dumb, but I guess I just like to talk. That’s what the game of volleyball is about, talking and communicating. I think it makes up for any skill I may lack, and it can pick up some other guys and get us running.”

Running all the way to a section championship.

Joining Nielsen on the eight-player Newport-Mesa Dream Team are CdM teammates Phil Bannan, Brad McCoy and Gus Ellis, Newport Harbor’s Weston Dunlap, Kyle Caldwell and Tucker Peleuses, and Sage Hill School’s Bayle Smith.

Phil BannanCorona del Mar, senior

The only repeat Dream Team member on this year’s team, Bannan was named the Most Valuable Player of Division II and the Pacific Coast League.

Bannan, a setter who is headed to UC San Diego, doesn’t say a lot but his play speaks for itself. He had 52 assists in the Sea Kings’ four-game win over Santa Barbara in the CIF Southern Section Division II final on May 26.

Bannan, who played with Nielsen and Dunlap in the Dave Mohs Orange County All-Star Match, also made the all-tournament team at the Best of the West Tournament, which the Sea Kings won in March. For the year, he played in all 35 of CdM’s matches and tallied 1,021 assists, an average of over 29 assists per match.

“He’s been very, very solid,” Conti said. “He’s got a lot of confidence running the middle. He’s not the guy who’s a super rah-rah guy, but he definitely became a better leader to his teammates on the court.”

Brad McCoyCorona del Mar, senior

The Sea Kings’ senior opposite hitter was also a first-team All-Pacific Coast League selection. He had eight kills against the Dons, and was part of the Sea Kings’ balanced attack all season long.

McCoy, who will continue his volleyball career at Penn State, played outside hitter as a freshman and middle blocker as a sophomore before settling in at opposite hitter. He had 150 kills, 33 blocks and 69 digs this season.

He was also well known as the player who would routinely win CdM’s sprint drills during practices.

“By far the quickest guy on the team, and he has an over 40-inch vertical jump, believe it or not,” Conti said. “I still think his best years are out in front of him.”

Gus EllisCorona del Mar, junior

Ellis, a middle blocker, showed a maturity beyond his years in helping CdM (33-2) to its second CIF title in three years. Ellis, who plays with type-one diabetes, was a first-team Division II and All-Pacific Coast League selection.

Ellis had a team-high 20 kills in the championship match win over Santa Barbara. For the season, he finished with 300 kills and 79 blocks.

A versatile player who can hit around the block as well as put up the block himself, Conti said the 6-foot-6 Ellis was also one of the Sea Kings’ hardest workers.

“We’re very fortunate to have him,” Conti said. “He’s one of the most effective offensive middle blockers that I’ve seen this year.”

Weston DunlapNewport Harbor, senior

The UCLA-bound Dunlap, who stands 6-foot-7, was a steadying force at middle blocker all year for the Tars. That was especially true as they played much of the season without Caldwell.

A first-team All-Sunset League selection for the second straight year, Dunlap helped Newport Harbor (20-13) to second place in the ultra-competitive Sunset League and into the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs before a five-game loss to Long Beach Wilson.

Dunlap, who earned Division I second-team honors, willed his squad to a crucial win at Fountain Valley in late March, with 24 kills and six blocks. On the season, he played in all 33 matches and had 337 kills and 60 blocks.

“He had some huge matches, and he’s got a great future on volleyball,” Sailors Coach Dan Glenn said. “I think as his strength gets better, he’ll improve even more.”

Kyle CaldwellNewport Harbor, junior

Caldwell, who earned Division I third-team honors, missed much of the season with a stress fracture in his right foot before coming back in early April. Still, the 6-8 setter made the most of his play down the stretch for the Tars.

Caldwell had seven kills and 42 assists in a first-round playoff win over Santa Margarita, and was also one of the Tars’ better blockers. Once he got back, the Tars found their groove, winning their final two Sunset League matches to place second in league.

For the season, he finished with 30 service aces and 32 blocks in just 15 matches.

“It’s the first time he’s really set, run the offense,” Glenn said. “But he did some really nice things against Santa Margarita and in the second round against Wilson. I think it hurt him not being there in the preseason, but he did a really nice job [at setter.].”

Tucker PeleusesNewport Harbor, junior

Even though the Tars lost in five games against Wilson in the CIF second round, Glenn said Peleuses — who had 18 kills, two blocks and two aces — had one of his best matches ever.

Peleuses, like Dunlap and Caldwell, was a first-team All-Sunset League selection. In past years he has played middle blocker and outside hitter, but Peleuses played opposite this year. His hard work ethic helped him improve throughout the season and pull it off.

In 33 matches, he finished with a team-high 345 kills, 75 blocks and 20 aces.

“He’s my hardest worker in practice and in the weight room,” Glenn said. “He’s turning into a volleyball player because now he can play any spot, which makes him more valuable.”

Bayle SmithSage Hill, sophomore

The only sophomore on the Dream Team, Smith earned the spot with his stellar play all season long. Essentially the Lightning’s go-to guy, the sophomore outside hitter helped Sage Hill reach the CIF Southern Section Division V semifinals for just the second time in school history.

Smith, who was named to the Division V first team, had a season-high 30 kills in a five-game win over San Marino in March, and a team-high 19 kills in a five-game win over Chadwick in the first round of CIF. For the season, he had 306 kills and an impressive hitting percentage of .354.

“It’s still early in his volleyball career, but he has a very good set of skills,” Sage Coach Dan Thomassen said. “And he’s very smart for how young he is.”