Sailors gain strength in sweep

NEWPORT BEACH — Just four weeks ago, the Newport Harbor High boys’ volleyball team survived a five-game Sunset League match at Fountain Valley.

The teams were the same Thursday night at Newport Harbor, but times have changed.

As the playoffs are fast approaching, the Sailors are fast improving. They proved it again, easing to a 25-16, 25-14, 25-18 sweep of the Barons that puts Newport in third place in league.

The Tars (17-11, 5-3) have benefited ever since 6-foot-8 junior setter Kyle Caldwell, who didn’t play in the teams’ earlier meeting, came back from injury in early April. He had another solid match Thursday, with five kills, two blocks and 32 assists.

But it’s not just Caldwell who has keyed Newport Harbor’s improvement, even if his role is crucial.

“It’s not just Kyle,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said. “We’re just getting better. Our defense and blocking still need to step it up just a little bit. Hopefully we can fine-tune it, because I feel like I’m running out of time with these guys. But I feel like our best volleyball’s ahead of us.”

If it wasn’t their best effort, the rematch against Fountain Valley showed was nevertheless very solid. Newport was ahead 7-6 in the first game before going on a 10-3 run, capped by Mark Liebermann’s first service ace of the night. He finished with a team-high three of them, to go along with five kills.

Fountain Valley (9-15, 1-7) pulled within six at 22-16, but Tucker Peleuses (a team-high nine kills) added a Newport kill and the Barons committed consecutive attack errors to give the Tars Game 1.

That wasn’t a problem for the Sailors, who committed just three attack errors all night. Weston Dunlap had eight kills and three blocks, Max Volz added four kills and Boyd Grubbs had four digs.

“Now that everyone’s healthy, we’re getting better at talking, siding out and serving better,” Caldwell said. “We’ve improved a bunch.”

Newport Harbor trailed early in Game 2, but came back, took the lead midway through the game and ended it on a Jimmy Pantoskey service ace, one of two he had in the match.

“Do not let up,” Glenn instructed his team during a Game 3 timeout, and they didn’t and got the sweep.

Fountain Valley Coach Todd Hanson said Newport Harbor controlled the momentum all night long.

“We played with much more intensity when we played them at home,” Hanson said. “It helps that they had their big guy [Caldwell] back. He definitely dictates the game. He puts up a huge block, and pushes up the set really well. We weren’t able to get our block out to it.”

Next week is big for the Sailors. If they beat Marina on Tuesday and Esperanza beats Los Alamitos, then Glenn said Thursday’s match at Los Al would be for second place in league.

The Tars then close out their regular season at Back Bay rival Corona del Mar May 4.

“We’ve got Senior Night on Tuesday, Los Al on Thursday and Corona on Friday,” Glenn said. “That’s about as good as it gets, until the playoffs. It’s a great way to finish the season.”