Roxy stays perfect

The Orange County Volleyball Club’s girls’ 18 Roxy team captured the Mizuno Mideast Qualifier title in dramatic fashion Sunday in Indianapolis.

Newport Harbor High’s Kirby Burnham, Kelly Heenan, Cinnamon Sary and Katey Thompson, as well as Corona del Mar’s Madie Smith and Sydney Brombal helped the Roxy squad go 10-0 in the three-day tournament to qualify for the Junior National Championships in June in Reno, Nev.

The Roxy team, coached by Travis Turner, the Orange Coast College men’s volleyball head man, beat Triangle Volleyball Club three times, with each match going to three sets, the latter being a 25-18, 26-28, 17-15 victory in the 18 Open Division final.

The Roxy girls also had to overcome adversity, OCVC Director Charlie Brande said. Sary, a setter for the Sailors’ CIF section and state championship teams, began the tournament in the hospital, battling strep throat. Emily Cook, a standout from the Temecula area, was nursing back pain and Alma Serna, a middle blocker from Capistrano Valley High, had twisted her ankle.

Sary still went on to play and contribute to the victories, Brande said. Burnham, bound for USC, and the UC Santa Barbara-bound Thompson were key in the title run, Brande said.

Smith, bound for UCLA, also proved to be a valuable setter.

— From staff reports