Oilers Take Outside Track to Defeat Newport Harbor

Huntington Beach took Newport Harbor outside to win a Southern Section Division I-A girls’ volleyball playoff quarterfinal Saturday at Huntington Beach High.

Oiler outside hitters Lindsey Vernand and Jennifer Gardikas combined for 36 kills to help Huntington Beach advance with an 11-15, 15-2, 15-11, 15-11 victory.

Third-seeded Huntington Beach will play second-seeded Mater Dei, which defeated Riverside Poly, 16-14, 15-2, 17-15, in a semifinal Tuesday at a site to be determined.

Taylor Govaars had 11 of her 28 kills in the first game for Newport Harbor (16-10), but Huntington Beach (17-4) eventually wore down the Sailors.

With Newport Harbor neutralizing middle blocker Serena Bountour, who finished with nine kills and six blocks, the Oilers went elsewhere for their offense.

“Lindsey and Jennifer stepped up tonight,” said Huntington Beach Coach Rocky Ciarelli. “That’s what I’ve talked about all season with this team. Newport held our middle blockers in check, but if you take one thing away from us, we’ve got someone else to go to.”

Gardikas had six of her 15 kills in the second game to help the Oilers take a 9-1 lead and seize the momentum after a first-game loss.

Vernand, who had 21 kills and hit .439, had five kills in the third game to help the Oilers erase an 8-5 deficit. Newport Harbor didn’t help its cause in the 15-11 third-game loss, committing eight hitting and seven service errors.

Heather Cullen, who had 11 digs, freshman Allyson Jennings (13 kills, 21 digs) and Govaars (17 digs) helped Newport Harbor pull to within 11-10 in the fourth game before the Oilers put it away with Turi Wilson (20 digs) and Gardikas (25 digs) paving the way.