Snow on Hot Streak, Leads Newport Harbor to Victory

IRVINE — There was Snow in Irvine on Thursday and the Vaquero girls’ volleyball team was left out in the cold.

Melissa Snow, an outside hitter for Newport Harbor, served four consecutive points--the last one an ace--to tie the score, 7-7, in the fifth game of a Sea View League match.

The run sparked Newport Harbor to win the game and complete a 13-15, 15-10, 15-8, 10-15, 15-10, victory in a match that lasted 2 hours 45 minutes.

“I’m just happy to get out of here with a ‘W’. Very happy,” said Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn.

Newport Harbor, ranked No. 7 in the county, improved to 3-3 overall and 2-0 in league. Unranked Irvine fell to 4-4, 0-2.

Snow had 30 kills, teammate Beth Waterman contributed 27 and sophomore Jennifer Carey provided excellent setting for the Sailors, but tough serving was the key to the match--especially in the fifth game.

“When they got that streak, they kind of saw they could win,” Irvine Coach Mark Mednick said.

Irvine was led by Kelly Webb, who had 17 kills, and Cathy Cook, who had 16.

Newport Harbor jumped to a 9-1 lead in the first game before Irvine went on a 12-4 run to tie it, 13-13. Webb had a kill for a point for Irvine then the Vaqueros squandered three game-point opportunities before Beth Cecil dived for a one-armed dig that rolled over the net and dropped for game point.

The Sailors jumped to leads of 11-5 and 11-7 in winning the second and third games, respectively, but Irvine’s Melinda Doomey served an ace to spark the Vaqueros in the fourth game. The Vaqueros rolled to a 12-4 lead before the Sailors battled back, 14-10, but by then it was too late. Kelly Hillman sent one through the Sailor block for game point to force the fifth game.