Come together

Joseph Boo

Friday’s 15-11, 15-12 win by Newport Harbor High’s JV girls

volleyball team over cross-town Corona del Mar signified many things for

the winning Sailors.

True, it’s always nice to beat the Sea Kings, since it gives the Sailors

something to brag about around town. But more importantly, it marked

Newport Harbor as more than a collection of tomorrow’s volleyball

players. It signified the Sailors are now a team.

“We really played together as a team for the first time,” Newport Harbor

Coach Tara Kroesch said.

For Newport Harbor to win, it got some great performances from its

offensive players. Outside hitter Andrea Trinen, middle blocker Kristen

McClune and setter Lindsay Thayer all turned in one of their best efforts

of the year, according to Kroesch, a former All-CIF standout with the

Sailors, who played collegiately at Pepperdine.

The win over their Back Bay rivals capped off a 3-0 week for the Sailors

and got them to .500 at 5-5.

“At the beginning of the year, we had a third sophomores, a third

freshmen, and a third juniors,” Kroesch said. “We were kind of scattered.

As the season progressed, we started to hit our peak. We’re finally

coming together as a team. We’re coming together at a good point in the

season.”

There was no one moment that brought this team together. Instead, it

needed time to grow.

“It was just gradual,” Kroesch said. “The girls realized They just had to

work hard to succeed.”

Newport Harbor has played well enough to go 4-1 in the Sea View League,

and a third-place effort at the Santa Barbara JV Tournament this past

weekend is the latest step.

Despite the loss to Newport, CdM Coach Bill Christiansen enjoyed the

close match.

“That was a very, very good match to watch.”

Christiansen also feels good because his team showed a lot of promise

against the Sailors.

Setter Sarah Hughes and outside hitter Lauren Nielson stood out against

Newport Harbor, according to Christiansen.

Ally Felith and Eleanor Mack also contributed with some strong hitting.

And Courtney Conwell played tough defense.

CdM did not travel to Santa Barbara. Instead, it will awaits to yet

another match against the Back Bay rivals.

“Overall, we played very, very well as a team,” Christiansen said. “We

went in, and everybody contributed. We look forward to playing them again

in two weeks.”