VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP : Balanced Attack Helps Newport Harbor Win

Newport Harbor’s volleyball team walked a tightrope at times Thursday night, but the Sailors kept their undefeated record intact with a balancing act.

Justin McIntee had 25 kills to lead five Newport Harbor players in double figures and the Sailors defeated Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, 15-4, 17-15, 13-15, 15-5, in a nonleague match at Newport Harbor.

Mark McAnlis had 21 kills, Frank Griffo 19 and sophomores Mitch McCoy and Eric Vallely each added 11 for the Sailors (5-0), the top-ranked team in Southern Section 4-A. Sailors’ setter Russ Gan had 92 assists.

“We’ve never had all five hitters in double figures like that before,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said. “But our (balance) has been one of our strengths this year.”

Cameron Green had 20 kills and Ryan Moeller added 15 for fifth-ranked Mira Costa (1-4).

After easily winning the first game, Newport Harbor struggled with Mira Costa in the second game. The Sailors led, 14-7, and seemed to have won when Matt Walker’s kill appeared to sail out of bounds.

But the officials ruled the ball inbounds, and Mira Costa scored the next eight points to take a 15-14 lead. Newport Harbor then scored the final three points on a McIntee kill and two Mira Costa hitting errors to take a two-game lead.

The Sailors rallied from deficits of 7-2 and 13-7 in the third game to tie it, 13-13, but Mira Costa won on a Newport Harbor hitting error and a kill by Walker.

Newport Harbor cruised in the fourth game, building a 10-4 lead and never letting Mira Costa back in the match.

“This is one of the few times we’ve beaten Mira Costa,” Glenn said. “They’re a good team and, around playoff time, I think they’ll be even better.”

In other nonleague matches:

Capistrano Valley 3, Del Mar Torrey Pines 1--Aaron Garcia had 25 kills and Evan Alexander had 24 to help the host Cougars (4-0) defeat the defending San Diego Section 3-A champion. Eric McElvie had 56 assists for the Cougars.

Cypress 3, Western 0--David Spegon had 23 assists, four aces and three kills for the Centurions (4-1).

Saddleback 3, Costa Mesa 2--Johan Ramirez made a kill to score the winning point for Saddleback (1-3). Teammate Jorge Marquez had 19 kills and 19 assists. San Clemente 3, Laguna Hills 2--Dru Gerhard had 21 kills and Morgan Bannister 20 for San Clemente (2-1).

Corona del Mar 3, Dana Hills 2--Derek Slingsby had 30 kills and Ryan Steelberg had 65 assists for Corona del Mar (1-2). Irvine 3, Laguna Beach 2--Greg Wakeham had 20 kills and Brady Hamilton had 16 and Jason Mickartz had 66 assists for visiting Irvine (3-0).

In Sunset League volleyball:

Edison 3, Ocean View 0--Joe McCarthy had 18 kills for host Edison (1-2).