PREP ROUNDUP : Replacements Drive Huntington Beach

Any doubts about the Huntington Beach volleyball team’s ability to replace graduated middle blockers Claude Doumerc and Jeff VanderWal were quickly erased Wednesday night.

Sparked by strong play by middle blockers Nick Ziegler and Chris Swann, Huntington Beach, ranked third in Orange County, swept sixth-ranked Newport Harbor, 15-12, 15-9, 15-10, in a nonleague match at Newport Harbor.

Ziegler had 12 kills and Swann added 10 as the Oilers (2-0) had four hitters in double-figure kills. Both players moved into the starting lineup this season, replacing Doumerc and VanderWal, two all-county selections last season.

“Swann went against VanderWal and Doumerc in practice last year, so we knew what he could do,” Huntington Beach Coach Rocky Ciarelli said. “And Nick is my nephew, so he better know what to do. Both are big kids and good jumpers.”

Outside hitters Mike Graves and Shadd Walker had 15 and 12 killsfor the Oilers.

Huntington Beach dominated the match despite playing without starting setter Chris Jones and key reserves Tommy Walden and Jon Wimbish. All three players are on the Oiler basketball team, which meets Los Angeles Crenshaw in a Southern California Division I playoff semifinal tonight.

Newport Harbor was without its top hitter, senior Mark McAnlis, who’s out for the season with a left knee injury.

McAnlis’ absence has left Sailor Coach Danny Glenn scrambling to find a lineup that works. He used three setters throughout the match, rotating junior Eric Vallely between setter and outside hitter.

Vallely had 11 kills and Mitch McCoy led the way with 21 kills for the Sailors (0-2).