PREP ROUNDUP : Marina Finally Able to Prevail Against Newport Harbor

Marina scored the first 11 points of the match and the last 14 to outlast Newport Harbor 15-2, 7-15, 15-11, 10-15, 15-3 in a nonleague boys’ volleyball match Tuesday at Newport Harbor.

In between the scoring runs, Marina and Newport Harbor were evenly matched. The Vikings were led by the powerful swings of 6-7 junior Steve Cavella, who finished with 28 kills. Newport Harbor countered with 6-4 senior Greg Slick, who put away 21.

“We’ve been trying to get Cavella into the offense more,” Marina Coach Darrick Lucero said. “He’s young, so we have a long way to go, but we’re getting there.”

The Vikings (3-2), who were beaten in three games by the Sailors at the Orange County Championships last weekend, sped to an 11-0 lead in the opening game and a quick victory. Seven of their points came off hitting or ball-handling errors by Newport Harbor.

Slick came alive with five kills in Game 2 as the Sailors (1-2) broke open a 6-6 tie by scoring nine of the last 10 points.

Marina came back and grabbed a 5-0 lead in Game 3 on four Newport Harbor hitting errors and a block by Cavella. The Sailors then answered by outscoring Marina, 10-1, but Cavella stepped up with three points off kills as the Vikings scored nine of the last 10 points.

Both teams battled back and forth in the fourth game as Slick came up with seven kills and Cavella 10. In the end, it was freshman outside hitter Scott Archbold who teamed with Wes Bedorek to stuff Cavella for game point.

Marina quickly fell behind 3-1 in the fifth game, but then Newport Harbor quickly fell apart as the Vikings reeled off 14 straight points to close the match.