Girls volleyball: Sailors fall to Huntington Beach

Tony Altobelli

NEWPORT BEACH - With Sea View League play right around the corner

the Newport Harbor High girls volleyball team is in the unfamiliar role

of student, rather than teacher.

Unfortunately for the Sailors, passing grades came few and far between

as visiting Huntington Beach pulled out a 16-14, 15-12, 12-15, 15-5

nonleague decision Friday night.

“We’re just making too many mistakes out there,” Coach Dan Glenn said.

“Against a team like Huntington Beach and on Monday against Irvine, you

just can’t make silly mistakes and be successful.”

The Sailors (5-4), ranked No. 3 in CIF Southern Section Division I-A,

were led by senior outside hitter Taylor Govaars, who pounded out 15

kills.

For the sixth-ranked Oilers (5-2), Serena Bountour and Jennifer

Gardika each had 17 kills, while Lindsay Verhand chipped in with 16.

In Game 1, Newport fell behind, 9-0, went on a 14-2 run and had three

game points, but the Oilers battled back to take the last five points.

The Sailors started slowly again in Game 2, falling behind, 11-3. A

9-2 Newport run cut the lead to, 13-12, but the Oilers managed to hold

on.

The tides turned in Game 3 as the Sailors jumped out an 8-2 lead

before Huntington Beach battled back to take the lead, 12-10.

But strong play by Govaars and junior middle blocker Liz Lord kept the

Sailors alive with a Game 3 win.

Newport and Irvine open league play Monday night in Irvine at 5 p.m.