Ross Has Plenty of Help, Newport Harbor Wins

If anyone still thought that Newport Harbor was just the April Ross show, the Sailors erased that notion with a five-game victory in the Division I state tournament semifinals over resno Bullard Tuesday at Newport Harbor.

Sure Ross had a team-high 19 kills and 15 digs, but several other seniors provided a boost as the Sailors fought off the talented Knights to win, 7-15, 15-10, 15-10, 12-15, 15-7.

Newport Harbor seniors Lisa Addeo, who had 10 blocks and eight kills and Erin Haller, who had six kills and 11 digs, were two other headliners who helped the Sailors reach Saturday’s state final to play Stockton Lincoln at Cypress College. Newport Harbor (25-1) is the defending Division I state champion.

Bullard (19-2) lost its only best-of-five matches to Newport Harbor this season, falling in the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions semifinals.

The Knights ended their best season in school history with one of the state’s most talented teams which featured four Division I college players, including Notre Dame-bound outside hitter Jessica Kinder and Cincinnati-bound Ashley Grooms.

“We knew their outside hitters were amazing,” Addeo said. “It took a while, but we finally caught on.”

Bullard played nearly error-free to win the first game, with Jessica Kinder (21 kills), her twin sister Kristin (48 assists, five kills) and Grooms (13 kills, four blocks), leading the way.

Newport Harbor made some adjustments, mainly bringing in Haller off the bench and having Ross set when she was in the back row.

“I don’t know if it was that we made adjustments but Lisa Addeo made the adjustments,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said. “She did a great job. She’s the best blocker I’ve coached, guy or girl, in my 13 years.”

Haller played like an all-star coming off the bench for Newport Harbor.

“I have nothing to lose,” Haller said. “I figure the worst thing is I just go back to sitting on the bench.”

Newport Harbor had 21 blocks in the final four games with senior Krista Dill (17 blocks) and junior Heather Cullen (17 kills, four blocks) giving Bullard problems in the middle.

“We played hard,” Bullard Coach Damian Elder said. “We had a tiny bit of trouble passing, but against Newport Harbor, you make any mistakes and you have big problems.”

Newport Harbor broke open a close fifth game after Addeo started a five-point run with a solo block on Grooms. Leading 13-6, Newport Harbor ended it with an overpass kill by Cullen and another by Ross on match point, which just caught the endline.

“We’ve worked our butts off this season,” Addeo said. “We just knew we had worked too hard not to go to the state championship match.”