First set comeback propels Ocean View girls’ volleyball to sweep of Segerstrom

Joshua Nehls, the new coach of Ocean View High girls’ volleyball, has been working with high school athletes since he entered college.

This fall marks his fifth year of coaching volleyball, and he has taken a Seahawks program that was used to flying under the radar and thrown it into the spotlight.

Ocean View appeared in the CIF Southern Section polls for the first time this week, and the Seahawks served notice that they intend to keep to their winning ways in league on Thursday night.

Helen Reynolds had 11 kills, six aces, and three blocks, as the Seahawks beat host Segerstrom, 31-29, 25-18, 25-23, in the teams’ Golden West League opener.

“The one thing that we’ve been saying from the start is that a marathon is won in the first mile,” Nehls said. “Since we started, we’ve been thinking about that CIF championship.

“Regardless of what we do, I’m telling them that we want that ring.”

It sounds counterintuitive, but Nehls may simply be referring to the belief that has been fomented from his team’s early-season success. Coming off a championship in the Garden Grove Santiago Tournament, the team finds itself slotted at No. 10 in the CIF-SS Division 8 rankings.

Having said that, the Seahawks (12-2, 1-0) struggled mightily early on against the Jaguars (3-4, 0-1). Segerstrom won the first eight points of the match, but Nehls remained upbeat. He declined to even use a timeout while his team worked through the issues.

“We were ready,” he said. “We usually start out a little rough like that, but I had no doubt that they were going to come back and work.

“I didn’t see the nerves. When I can read them good, then I stay feeling good.”

Ocean View won six points in a row to cut its deficit to 20-18. The run expanded to 11 of 12 points, with back-to-back kills by freshman middle blocker Wendie Smith tying the match and then giving the Seahawks the lead at 22-21.

Great defensive work by libero Kelly Greiner (23 digs), opposite Jillian Pratt (15 digs), and outside hitter Po Russ (four digs in the first game) sustained the set. Alyson Nguyen served out the final two points, as Ocean View won the first set, 31-29.

“It was just really exciting,” Smith said of playing a key role in her first career league victory. “I thought we played really, really well. We just kept the energy up and kept pushing.”

The Seahawks dominated when they played through the middle, with Cambria Adams accounting for 16 assists. Those opportunities would not have been there if Greiner was not taking charge on the first ball.

“She is so good,” Reynolds said of the junior libero. “She just seems like she is here and there. Her feet are always moving, and she is always diving. She has hit the ground so many times.

“She is crazy. I love her.”

Reynolds’ final block ended the match in a tight third set.

Kaile Harmon led the Jaguars with 11 kills. Jaylynn Harmon added six kills and two blocks, while Nancy Tarin contributed five kills and two blocks.

Andrew.Turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @ProfessorTurner