Sailors in title game

HUNTINGTON BEACH - Newport Harbor High’s boys volleyball team went

from also-ran in the morning to giant-killer in the afternoon Saturday at

Huntington Beach, and as a result the Sailors have a date with Foothill

Monday evening at Edison High for the crown at the Orange County Division

I Championships.

Coach Dan Glenn’s Sailors, stocked with football and basketball stars,

appear to have found some volleyball stars in the fold, as well, as

Newport knocked off Mater Dei in the quarterfinals, 15-8, 10-15, 15-12,

then staggered Marina in the semifinals, 15-13, 13-15, 15-11, to qualify

for the title shot.

Earlier in the day the Sailors dropped a 4-15, 15-9, 13-15 decision in

the final round of pool play to Santa Margarita, thus entered the

quarterfinals unseeded.

Blake Tippett was the No. 1 factor all day, it seemed, although as

this tournament is proving out, the Sailors may be much deeper than many

believed.

Tippett and Greg Perrine each had eight kills in the loss to Santa

Margarita.

Against Mater Dei it was Tippett at the forefront with 16 kills, with

Morgan Craig (10 kills), Perrine (nine kills) and Christian Berg-Hansen

with eight kills.

Lloyd Wright had 53 assists in the struggle.

Tippett led the way with 17 kills and four service aces, the final ace

dotting the exclamation mark on the 15-11 conquest, which sent the

Sailors into Monday’s title-quest.

Perrine had nine kills and Berg had eight kills, while Wright was

credited with 43 assists.