PREP ROUNDUP : Irvine Avenges Loss to Newport Harbor

Irvine, which was swept this season by Newport Harbor, rolled past the fifth-ranked and defending league champion Sailors, 15-9, 15-8, 15-9, Friday night at Newport Harbor to clinch the Sea View League boys’ volleyball title.

“Individually, these are the best players I’ve ever coached and tonight they showed that as a team,” Coach Mark Mednick said. “I wanted them to get a banner they’d always remember.

“All starters played exceptionally,” said Mednick, who attributed the victory to effective passing and blocking. “They saved the best for last.”

Senior middle blocker and team captain Greg Wakeham led the seventh-ranked Vaqueros (14-4, 13-1) with 22 kills and four blocks.

“If I’m in the groove, then the whole team gets in the groove and if the team is playing well and I’m not, they lift me up,” Wakeham said.

In the second game, Wakeham converted six of six kill attempts and played a big role in Irvine’s sideout game. Returning from an ankle injury, middle blocker Brent Eldridge, who added 11 kills and six blocks, had a solo block to give Irvine an 8-7 lead. Erik Silberman served out the game with a spike off a block from Phillip Maurer.

Newport Harbor (12-4, 12-2), ranked No. 6 in Southern Section Division I, had four service errors in the first game and Irvine was able to capitalize. A kill by Eldridge tied the score, 9-9, and sparked Irvine to win six consecutive points. Irvine won on Mike Creighton’s ace and a kill from Luke Carlson.

With the score tied, 6-6, in the third game, Irvine took the lead for good on an Eldridge block. Creighton served out the game with kills from Carlson and a match-winning dink from Wakeham.

Eric Phernambucq had 50 assists for the Vaqueros.