Daily Pilot Girls’ Volleyball Dream Team

Katey Thompson is coming to terms with the fact the girls’ volleyball season at Newport Harbor High has been over for three weeks.

It’s not because Thompson’s senior season ended on a sour note.

The 6-foot-1 middle blocker earned the Newport-Mesa Dream Team Player of the Year honor. She helped the Sailors reach all their goals, winning a Sunset League title, a CIF Southern Section Division I-AA championship and a CIF State Division I crown.

The amount of work Newport Harbor (33-6, 9-1 in league) put in to reach the top is what Thompson misses the most. The path to success began in practice and it was inside the gym where the Sailors united.

Those workouts are still fresh in Thompson’s mind.

“How many people can say April Ross came to your practice?” Thompson said.

Even without the AVP star and former Sailors standout around, the games played during practice at Newport Harbor sometimes trumped the ones in a real match. Practice turned out to be that competitive. One time it got a little out of control. During a drill toward the end of the regular season, the Sailors turned against each other.

“There was so much going on that a huge fight almost broke out,” Thompson said. “Players argued the score in the game. Some didn’t believe the score and accused the other players of cheating. It was a big eye opener.”

Coach Dan Glenn had enough of the verbal jousting. He said he actually lost his cool and intervened.

The message the man in his 24th year at Newport Harbor sent was clear. The talented Sailors weren’t going anywhere unless they stopped the in-house fighting.

“We need to trust each other,” Glenn told his players.

The Sailors listened, because without each other, say goodbye to any playoff run.

The one thing Thompson hates the most is losing. She made sure Newport Harbor never lost in the final two months of the season.

The Sailors closed things out with 11 straight victories. Three stood out to Thompson.

Obviously, the sweep of Salinas in the state title match at UC Irvine on Dec. 5 ranks up there. Tougher than claiming Glenn’s fifth state crown was reaching the match against Salinas.

Four days earlier, Thompson played a vital role to the Sailors pulling off a five-game upset at Dos Pueblos of Goleta in the Southern California Regional final.

For the match, Thompson finished with 25 kills and no hitting errors, a flawless performance. Thompson delivered it in front of her future coaches at UC Santa Barbara, where she plans to continue her playing career.

Glenn expected Thompson to elevate her play.

“The bigger the match, the bigger she played,” Glenn said of Thompson, who shared the Sunset League Player of the Year award and made first-team All-CIF in Division I after recording 418 kills, 22 blocks, 17 service aces and 11 digs.

“What separates her from a lot of kids is her competitive will. She wants to win.”

One team Thompson set out to beat again was Los Alamitos. The Sailors shared the league title with the Griffins.

When the two programs played for the section championship on Nov. 21, it was their third meeting of the season. Fox Sports Net televised the action from Cypress College that night.

Newport Harbor stole the spotlight. Thompson finished with 12 kills, three blocks and three aces as the Sailors won in four games.

The Sailors gave Glenn his seventh section title. Thompson said she recorded the match on her digital video recorder at home.

When she wants to remember the season, Thompson replays the match. She looks for teammates and the coaching staff.

There’s another thing Thompson is having a hard time getting used to.

“It’s kind of weird,” Thompson said of watching herself on TV as broadcasters comment on her every move on the court.

The rest of the Dream Team includes:

Madie Smith

Corona del Mar

Senior setter led the Sea Kings to their second straight appearance in the CIF Southern Section Division II-AA championship match and CIF State Southern California Regional Division II final. The University of San Diego-bound Smith produced an Orange County-best 1,098 assists and finished with 254 digs, 182 kills, 23 service aces and 23 blocks. Smith received a share of the Pacific Coast League MVP award and earned first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division II honors. Smith is a repeat Dream Team pick.

Kirby Burnham

Newport Harbor

Senior outside hitter was named the CIF State Division I final MVP after recording 12 kills and six digs in the Sailors’ sweep of Salinas. The USC-bound outside hitter led Newport Harbor with 476 kills and finished with 85 digs and 36 aces. The 6-2 Burnham helped Newport Harbor to its second league title in three years. Burnham earned first-team All-Sunset League and All-CIF Southern Section Division I honors. Burnham is a repeat Dream Team pick.

Morgan Boukather

Corona del Mar

Junior opposite helped the Sea Kings claim their fourth straight Pacific Coast League championship. Boukather led the Sea Kings with 307 kills and contributed 58 digs, 55 aces, 48 blocks and 32 assists. She finished with 21 kills, four aces and two blocks in a five-game victory against Santa Barbara on Oct. 30. Boukather earned first-team All-Pacific Coast League and All-CIF Southern Section Division II honors.

Cinnamon Sary

Newport Harbor

Sophomore setter excelled after stepping into the starting job after Mackenzi Campbell injured her pinkie. Sary finished with 889 assists. Sary’s 5-11 size helped the Sailors defense at the net. She produced at least 50 assists five times. In the CIF State Southern California Regional Division I final at Dos Pueblos, she finished with 54 assists and five blocks. Sary earned first-team All-Sunset League honors.

Lindsey Kish

Sage Hill

Senior outside hitter became the first Lightning player to be named first-team All Academy League in each of her four seasons. Kish averaged 4.5 digs, 3.2 kills, 1.1 aces and close to one block per game. She led Sage Hill to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA playoffs. Kish earned first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division IV honors. Kish is a repeat Dream Team pick.

Kelly Heenan

Newport Harbor

Senior libero is considered the best all-around player when it comes to fundamentals at Newport Harbor. She finished with 166 digs. Heenan earned first-team All-Sunset League honors.