Newport Harbor Struggles Early but Sweeps

Mater Dei looked ready to seize an opportunity to upset third-seeded Newport Harbor in the first round of the Southern Section Division I boys’ volleyball playoffs Friday at Newport Harbor. But Newport Harbor ripped it away.

The final score looked harmless enough, with Newport Harbor, the Sea View League co-champion, toppling South Coast League co-champion Mater Dei, 15-13, 15-8, 15-3.

Adam Hearlson had 13 kills and six blocks and Al Limon had 13 kills and 10 digs to help Newport Harbor advance to play the Long Beach Poly-Quartz Hill winner in the second round Tuesday.

But early in the first game, it looked like Newport Harbor (18-1) might not escape the first round. Mater Dei (14-3) raced to leads of 11-5 and 13-8 before Newport Harbor responded.

Setter Ty Tramblie, who had four aces, jump served for an ace and Hearlson had two kills and a block to help Newport Harbor score four consecutive points to pull within, 13-12. Then Newport Harbor finished off the rally with another three-point run.

After a Hearlson kill from the middle gave Newport Harbor a side out, Kent Turner spiked for a kill, then a block and kill from Billy Clayton (eight kills, two blocks) closed out the game, 15-13.

“We knew we could play better,” Hearlson said. “We just pulled it together.”

And Mater Dei lost its edge.

In the second game, Newport Harbor’s defense picked it up a notch, with Matt Jameson (10 kills, 13 digs) and Tramblie (13 digs, 37 assists) among the Sailors making some key digs to help Newport Harbor score seven consecutive points to take the lead, 12-6.

And Newport Harbor continued to scramble on defense, scoring 11 of the first 12 points in Game 3 before Tramblie ended the match with another ace off his jump serve.

“Early, we didn’t play that aggressive,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said. “And we’re not a team that can afford to do that. Everybody has to play at full throttle for us to be successful.”

Middle blocker David Allen, who had three kills and two blocks in the first game, and Pat Cope (11 kills) helped Mater Dei to the fast start.