Hearlson’s Finale Is First-Rate as South Tops North

Adam Hearlson didn’t look like someone ready to give up volleyball after his dominating performance helped the South defeat the North, 25-18, 21-25, 15-13, in the Dave Mohs Memorial Orange County all-star boys’ volleyball match Friday at Newport Harbor.

Hearlson, a middle blocker from Newport Harbor, closed out his volleyball career with eight kills and three blocks to earn MVP honors in the rally scoring match.

“It’s tough to walk away from it,” said Hearlson, who will attend Chapman, which doesn’t field a men’s volleyball team. “We had a lot of fun tonight.”

Newport Harbor setter Ty Tramblie had lots of fun too. He finished with 19 assists, five digs and two blocks, and also put away match point with a spike.

“Everywhere you set there’s a good hitter,” Tramblie said. “I’ve played club with [Corona del Mar’s Dennis Alshuler] since the seventh grade, and after battling with them all season, it was nice not to see him across the net.”

Although the South appeared to have an edge, the North made it interesting.

Esperanza’s Dusty Russell (seven kills) and Phil Peterson, Orange’s Mike Garcia and El Dorado’s Ryan Carlos helped spark the North from an eight-point deficit to win the second game.

Garcia had a block to give the North a 13-11 lead in the final game before the South scored four consecutive points to win.

In the girls’ match, MVP Danielle Bauer of Foothill had a key block and kill in the final game, then she served out the match with two aces to finish a 24-26, 25-17, 15-11 victory for the South.