Newport Harbor Makes It Two in a Row Over Lincoln

The state Division I girls’ volleyball championship match was all about history.

In a little more than an hour, Newport Harbor became the first team since 1993 to win consecutive Division I state titles by defeating Stockton Lincoln in three efficient games, 15-12, 15-7, 15-6, Saturday at Cypress College.

April Ross had 18 kills, three blocks and 13 digs and tournament MVP Krista Dill had 16 kills and three blocks to help Newport Harbor win a record fourth state title overall, tying Corona del Mar, Mountain View St. Francis and San Diego Francis Parker.

On the first match point, Ross, a 6-foot-1 senior who has committed to USC, knocked a free ball at the net off Lincoln setter Julie Erbez, who has committed to Connecticut, to spark the celebratory dogpile.

“It was the last point, last game of our senior year,” Ross said. “I knew we were going to win. I wanted to get that last point. Winning state is much better as a senior.”

Last season in the Division I state final, Newport Harbor defeated Lincoln, 15-11, 16-18, 15-5, 19-17.

Ross had 28 kills, seven blocks and 13 digs in last season’s victory over Lincoln, but she was the sidekick to former Newport Harbor setter Jennifer Carey, the state tournament MVP last season who is now the starting setter for Hawaii, ranked third in the nation.

But the ’99 Sailors were clearly Ross’ team.

“We wanted to serve away from her but Ross can cover half the court,” Lincoln Coach Bret Almazan-Cezar said. “She digs balls, she’s passing everything, she’s setting . . . and Dill was hitting the [heck] out of the ball.”

Dill, a 6-foot-2 senior who has committed to Duke, hit .480 for the match, highlighting the Sailors’ effective middle attack. Junior middle blocker Heather Cullen finished with 12 kills.

Brenda Waterman had 10 kills and fellow senior Lisa Addeo added six to give the Sailors, who hit .361 as a team, even more weapons for sophomore setter Katie King (47 assists) to utilize.

“Tonight, we were on all cylinders,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said. “When we play like that, nobody can beat us.”

Lincoln tried and stayed with Newport Harbor in Game 1, until the Sailors settled down with their passing and defense before closing out the game by scoring five consecutive points.

“April Ross did her thing,” Almazan-Cezar said. “It took a while for her to find her rhythm, but then when they started passing well we couldn’t stop Dill. So when we committed to Dill, [Addeo] had a heyday.

“Our passing wasn’t terrible tonight, but it wasn’t what it needed to be to win a state championship.”

With Saturday’s victory, Newport Harbor became the first team to win consecutive Division I state titles since Corona del Mar in 1992 and ’93. Irvine, with future U.S. Olympian Bev Oden, also won consecutive Division I titles in 1987 and ’88.

“We lost to both Irvine and Corona del Mar in state finals,” Glenn said. “So it’s nice to join them.”

Ross finished her high school career with two state titles and an unprecedented three consecutive Southern Section major division championships.

And Saturday’s victory was the perfect finale for the Sailors’ nine seniors.

“It just seems real now,” senior Andrea Shutz said. “Last year, it seemed like a dream.”

And the future looks fine for the Sailors with Cullen and King among the returners next season.