Sailors Sink Mira Costa in 4 Games

Newport Harbor patiently transformed itself from one team building toward a championship, to one that can win one.

The Sailors (20-2), who start only one senior, won the Southern Section Division I-AA girls’ volleyball championship Saturday at Long Beach State, defeating perennial power Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, 15-5, 15-12, 11-5, 15-7.

“We’ve come a long way this year,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said. “It’s great to see the hard work these kids have put in pay off.”

Newport Harbor junior setter Jennifer Carey led the balanced attack, finishing with 40 assists, 20 digs and five kills.

She had plenty of help from sophomore outside hitter April Ross (18 kills, 28 digs), junior middle blocker Kathy Lavold (17 kills) and sophomore middle blocker Krista Dill (seven kills, five blocks).

It was the fourth section title for Newport Harbor, third for Glenn, and first since 1994, when the Sailors won with Misty May, now at Long Beach State.

Mira Costa has won nine section titles and has been to the finals 14 times in the 25-year history of the section championships. The Mustangs (19-3) also feature middle blocker Ashley Bowles (15 kills, 22 digs, three blocks), who plans to attend UCLA.

Mira Costa’s Stephanie Taylor had 19 kills and sparked the Mustangs’ comeback in the third game.

But Ross answered in the fourth game and had five kills in a stretch to push the Sailors ahead, 12-6.

Lavold spiked for two side outs, then served up an ace to make it 13-7. Then Ross spiked from the left side to give the Sailors match point and Marissa Cothran served an ace to start the celebration.

“April came up with some huge side outs in the fourth game,” Glenn said. “She got those three or four kills there and it got her fired up and it picked up our team.

“That was a key to the match, to closing them out.”

With the team passing well, the Sailors were able to use Lavold and Dill, both 6 feet 2, effectively in the middle. So the Sailors cruised in the first game, 15-5.

They struggled with their passing more in the third and fourth games, but bounced back to win the title.

And in the euphoria of the championship, the Sailors still had their sights set on bigger goals, mainly this week’s state tournament.

“This is great but it’s just a step,” Carey said. “I think we proved tonight that we can go all the way.”