SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION I VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP : Newport Harbor Drops St. Joseph

Fighting off the flu and four years of first-round frustration, the Newport Harbor girls’ volleyball team rallied to beat Lakewood St. Joseph, 15-12, 6-15, 15-5, 15-7, in a Southern Section Division I match Thursday night at Bellflower St. John Bosco.

Sophomore Misty May and senior Dani Foley had 16 and 12 kills, respectively, as Newport Harbor (17-4) advanced past the first round for the first time since 1987.

“It was a nice win for us,” said Sailor Coach Dan Glenn, who started four sophomores, a freshman and a senior. “We finally got over the hump. We’re so young, we’re not supposed to be winning. All the pressure’s on the other teams.”

The unseeded Sailors will meet second-seeded Los Angeles Notre Dame Academy, a 15-3, 15-0, 15-9 winner over Westlake, in a second-round match Tuesday night. Lakewood St. Joseph, a State Division I finalist last season, ended the season at 13-2.

Foley, May and some of the other Sailors were struck with the flu earlier this week, but showed no ill effects in the final two games.

May had three kills and three blocks, and Foley added a block and a kill as Newport Harbor scored the final nine points of the third game.

May’s powerful jump serve keyed an 8-0 run that gave Newport Harbor a 9-3 lead in the fourth game. She had a kill and an ace in the run, and her jump serve forced three St. Joseph hitting errors.

St. Joseph cut the deficit to 10-7, but Newport Harbor got some strong serving from another sophomore, Laura Osborne.

Osborne, promoted from the junior varsity for the playoffs, served four consecutive points, including an ace, to push the lead to 14-7. A kill by May ended the match.

“Our serving saved us,” Glenn said.

Sophomore middle blocker Melissa Schutz had 11 kills, and freshman setter Jenny Hecker added 40 assists.

Afterward, Glenn was asked if his young team could compete in tough matches later in the playoffs.

“When Misty’s having a good game,” Glenn said. “I think we’re capable of playing with anybody.”

Setter Heather Hofmans led St. Joseph with 29 assists.

In another Division I match:

Laguna Beach 3, Agoura 0--Rachel Wacholder had 29 kills and Hilary Kyle had 14 for host Laguna Beach, which won, 16-14, 15-2, 15-5.