PREP ROUNDUP : Newport Harbor Gets Around Fountain Valley

Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn breathed a sigh of relief Friday after his team beat visiting Fountain Valley in the first round of the Southern Section Division I boys’ volleyball playoffs, 15-10, 15-5, 13-15, 15-9.

After losing to Corona del Mar in the Sea View League final--the Sailors shared the league title with the Sea Kings--Glenn said he was afraid his team might be primed for an upset.

“I was real nervous,” Glenn said. “Fountain Valley is real young and real good, and plus losing that last match was real disappointing. But, the kids came back well tonight.”

In the first three games, the Sailors (14-4) jumped out to early leads.

Newport Harbor led, 12-3, in the first game, but Fountain Valley (12-5) scored six consecutive points before the Sailors put the game away.

The Sailors then won the second game with ease, but the Barons fought back in the third game after trailing, 10-6.

Fountain Valley closed out its comeback by scoring the final six points.

“There were a lot of runs,” Glenn said. “Both teams made a lot of mistakes though.”

The Sailors put together their biggest run in the fourth game, when they scored 10 points, taking a 10-3 lead. Mitch McCoy had four aces during the streak.

McCoy finished with a match-high 15 kills and Eric Vallely had 11 for the Sailors. Ed Ratledge led Fountain Valley with 14 kills.