Newport Harbor Tops Laguna Beach

Sure it’s early in the season, but Newport Harbor served notice that it will be one of the county’s best after defeating host Laguna Beach, 16-14, 15-13, 15-8, Wednesday in a nonleague boys’ volleyball match.

The Sailors, who have only two players shorter than 6 feet 2, were led by 6-6 junior middle blocker Adam Hearlson, who had 14 kills and nine blocks, and 6-2 senior setter Travis Nelson, who had 46 assists and 13 digs.

And they had plenty of help. Matt Jameson added 13 kills and 12 digs, Scott Archbold had 12 kills and four blocks, Scott Dore had seven kills and Zachary Wells had 18 digs.

Newport Harbor lost to Laguna Beach in three games at home last season.

“It’s always nice to come in here and win, especially in three,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said. “This is one of the biggest and most athletic teams that I’ve had. The kids played well, but there’s a lot of volleyball left to be played.”

Newport Harbor (2-0) will start with the Orange County Championships this weekend before settling into Sea View League play. The Sea View should be the toughest league in the county.

Laguna Beach (2-1) is heavily favored to win the Pacific Coast League and is also an early-season favorite to go deep into the Southern Section Division I playoffs.

Although the Artists lost in three games, it wasn’t like they rolled over.

“The first two games could have gone either way,” Glenn said.

But 15 hitting errors in the first game hurt Laguna Beach.

“I guess that shows we can be scrappy,” Laguna Beach Coach Shawn Patchell said, “making that many mistakes and staying in the game. We competed.”

In the second game, Newport Harbor needed six game points before it won the game on consecutive blocks by Nelson and Hearlson.

Then the Sailors took advantage of Laguna Beach’s sloppy play to start the third game, racing to a 9-2 lead before closing out the match with three consecutive blocks by Hearlson and Archbold.

“They were better than us tonight,” Patchell said, “but I’ll take a loss early in the season if it motivates the guys. They’re a little more focused now. I think we’ll have a real good practice tomorrow.”

Tyler Reynard had 15 kills and 15 digs, Aidan Leedom had 12 kills and Miles McGann had 30 assists and nine kills for Laguna Beach.