Sailors’ fans admiring perfect Sunset

NEWPORT BEACH — Being perfect isn’t easy.

The Newport Harbor High boys’ volleyball team remains so in the Sunset League. The Sailors showed Monday night they’re not so untouchable at home.

The Sailors rallied to beat Esperanza, 20-25, 25-23, 18-25, 26-24, 15-12, dodging a bullet in their pursuit of a second straight undefeated league championship campaign.

Coach Dan Glenn has seen this kind of performance at home from Newport Harbor (19-7, 6-0 in league) this season.

“The thing I’m disappointed in is, I don’t think we’ve played our best volleyball in our own gym, Glenn said. “That’s where we should be our best.”

“I haven’t had a team that has been like this [during my 23 years]. I don’t know if it’s [because they’re not] playing hard. It’s [because they’re] not playing well. It just doesn’t seem like we’re focused. This is usually a great home advantage.”

Esperanza almost turned the lights off early at Newport Harbor.

The Sailors, ranked No. 5 in the latest CIF Southern Section Division I coaches’ poll, sputtered at the start. Unforced errors gave the Aztecs confidence.

This isn’t a bad team. Five players can attack the ball for Esperanza (15-4, 3-2), confusing any defense.

The Aztecs mixed it up in the first two games, which really belonged to them. After the Sailors cut the deficit to 22-20 in Game 1, Esperanza scored five straight points to seal it.

Outside hitter Tyler Russie stuffed a shot, sending Newport Harbor to the other side of the bleachers wondering what went wrong. A lot of mistakes, and in the second game, trailing Esperanza, 23-20, the momentum appeared to be with the visitors.

That’s until Jackson Carmack served for Newport Harbor. The Sailors closed it out. Outside hitter JB Green recorded a kill, followed by middle blocker Will Connelly, and then Green again to put the Sailors ahead, 24-23 lead. The other time they led in Game 2 was at 1-0.

Outside hitter Cody Caldwell hammered one of his 17 kills, allowing Newport Harbor to steal the game.

“We were pretty lucky to win that second game,” Glenn said. “We could’ve easily been swept, but we hung in there.”

Playing on the road is usually a test for the visiting team. Both teams competed on a Monday, an unusual day for a league match.

This was the only day available because Glenn said Esperanza had its spring break two weeks ago, postponing the match until Monday. The Aztecs came out fiery.

“We were looking forward to this match,” said Esperanza opposite Chris Hartig, who finished with a match-high 19 kills and six service aces.

The Sailors at times looked like they were still in weekend mode.

“We didn’t have any time to regroup, practice,” Hamilton Day said.

“We just didn’t come out playing our best, which [is] not good in our home court. We were sluggish. It didn’t seem like we were prepared.”

This was Day’s first crack at the Aztecs.

Glenn said he missed the pool-play win against Esperanza at the Orange County Championships last month. The Sailors went on to win the tournament’s premier division.

In the final two games Monday, Glenn said Day performed like the player he was in the season-opening victory against Laguna Beach.

Day, who is recovering from an early season ankle injury, finished with seven kills and three solo blocks, helping the Sailors’ comeback.

Connelly contributed six kills and two blocks, while Caldwell recorded the game-winner, a kill into the back row.

“Down the stretch, yes [Caldwell played well]. Not very good at the beginning,” Glenn said. “That’s a good sign of a player, ‘How do you play when things aren’t going that well?’ ”

Home might not feel like home quite yet for the Sailors. But they’re fighting to stay perfect in league.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.