OC club goes 1-2-3 in Phoenix

PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Orange County Volleyball Club enjoyed much success at the Volleyball Festival, finishing first, second and third in three girls’ age groups Thursday.

The 14-and-under blue team won their respect division, going undefeated during the five-day event.

The U15 blue team placed second and the U16 blue team third.

The U14 team rallied to beat Beach Cities Volleyball Club of Manhattan Beach in the final, 12-25, 25-16, 22-20. The U14 dropped only two games throughout the tournament.

Coach Scott Bruce said the team was led by incoming Newport Harbor High freshmen Hunter Jennings, Tristen Thompson and Torey Thompson, as well as Grace Kennedy, a freshman-to-be at Corona del Mar.

“It’s a big step up,” said Bruce of the U14 team, which placed 17th last year.

Many of the players on the U15 team played on last year’s U14 team. They were close to winning it all this year.

The U15 team lost to eventual champion Saddleback Valley Volleyball Club of Lake Forest twice, settling for a runner-up finish.

“They played with a lot of energy,” said Coach Matt Skolnik, adding the team was led by incoming CdM sophomores Britton Taylor and Mary McKennon and incoming Newport Harbor sophomores Kasey Thompson and Tatum Norton.

The 16U received the top seed, but it fell short of repeating as champion.

Coach Jim Downey said the team received contributions from Newport Harbor’s Cinnamon Sary and Jackie Graham and CdM’s Hailey Senske and Katelyn Baker.

“It was a good tournament,” Downey said. “We had a good finish.”

Junior Olympics result

MIAMI — The Orange County Volleyball Club’s 18-and-under girls’ team placed 17th at the 30th annual USA Junior Olympics Volleyball Championships at the Miami Beach Convention Center Saturday.

The U18 team went 4-4 in the tournament’s open division. Twenty-eight teams competed in the division.

Darryl Gan of Corona del Mar High coached the team, which included recent Newport Harbor graduates Mary Buckingham, Carly Cotton and Alice Cope.

Madie Smith, a future senior at Corona del Mar, also contributed, as well as Newport Harbor incoming seniors, Katey Thompson, the Newport-Mesa Dream Team Player of the Year, Kirby Burnham and Kelly Heenan.

— From staff reports