Newport Harbor pulls off improbable victory
Newport Harbor’s improbable five-game victory against No. 8 Laguna Beach, one in which the fourth-ranked Sailors survived four match points, ended on its only ace of the match by libero Connor Curry.
Curry was serving in Game 4 with Newport Harbor trailing 20-24, and Laguna Beach leading 2-1 in games. The Sailors tied it at 24 on a key block from Will Connelly (20 kills) before forcing a decisive game.
The Sailors (1-0) were able to ride the momentum and defeated the Breakers, 25-21, 18-25, 23-25, 26-24, 15-7, in a nonleague boys volleyball game Thursday evening at Newport Harbor High.
Laguna Beach (0-1) entered the match having lost in five games in its home opener against Edison on Tuesday.
“This feels good,” said Newport Harbor setter Jackson Carmack, who finished with 50 assists. “Laguna Beach is a great team. It was a tough, tough game. We lost to Huntington Beach in our home opener last year. We wanted this one.”
The comeback in Game 4 saved the match for Newport Harbor, but its rally in the opening game was just as critical. The Sailors trailed 16-20 in Game 1 before tying it at 21 on a kill from Rusty Sary (22 kills).
Sary followed with another winner to give Newport Harbor the lead 22-21. The Sailors closed the game out on a block from Carmack, a kill from Sary, and a lift violation against the Breakers.
Laguna Beach fought back in Game 2 after falling behind 10-12. The Breakers won the next seven points and led 17-12 to take control of the game.
Game 3 remained close late with Laguna Beach clinging to a 21-20 advantage. A roll shot from Travis Woloson (14 kills) pushed the lead to 22-20. Scottie Chapel (14 kills) have Laguna Beach match point with a winner, and another kill from Chapel ended the game.
Laguna Beach broke a 17-17 tie in Game 4 with a 7-3 spurt, setting up the four match points. The Sailors saved the first on a kill from Sary, then the second on a winner from Connelly. The Breakers missed on a swing attempt on match point No. 3.
“We hung in there,” Newport Harbor coach Dan Glenn said. “When you can dig balls good things happen. We have a descent block, but we aren’t as physical as them. Our defense has to be better. We did a nice job tonight.”
In other boys volleyball:
No. 5 Huntington Beach 3, Mission Viejo 0: The Oilers (1-1) picked up their first victory of the season with a sweep of the visiting Diablos, 25-22, 25-19, 25-20. It was the opener for Mission Viejo (0-1). Nick Iorfino recorded 10 kills and Nick Siegle had seven kills for Huntington Beach.
El Modena 3, Garden Grove 0: Connor Olbright had 14 kills and James Sutherland added seven kills as the Vanguards (1-0) swept past the visiting Argonauts (0-1), 25-22, 25-8, 25-15.
