Brande: Newport Harbor alumni to meet new boys’ volleyball coach Ciarelli

The Newport Harbor High boys’ volleyball team will kick off its 2015 season with the Annual Alumni Game/Event at 5 p.m. at Newport Harbor’s Yardley Court on Feb. 28.

It will give the volleyball alumni a chance to welcome the new Sailors’ coach, Rocky Ciarelli, as well as see how the new team shapes up against the alumni.

Newport’s storied history starts in the 70’s with players like Denny Cline (UCLA), Greg Kelly (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo), Mike Blanchard (Pepperdine), Greg Sullivan (Loyola Marymount) and the most heralded alum of all, Steve Timmons, who started for USA in three Olympics and was MVP in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

I am not sure if any will play on Feb. 28, but we are asking them to attend the event to honor the program and the new coach.

The 1980 team, which won the first CIF championship for Newport Harbor in boys’ volleyball, was very talented. With a five-set win over district rival Estancia in the finals, the team featured Bill Yardley (USC), Kevin Droke (San Diego State), Tom Bunnell (Long Beach State), Bruce Caldwell (San Diego State), Dave Devick, Peter “Down Town” Helfrich (Redlands), Alan Gaddis (Princeton), Gary Crane (UC Santa Barbara), Mark Barrett and Ted Cox.

Other notable alumni in the 1980’s include Mike Curci (Cal), Hugh Foster (San Diego State), Drew Sheward (USC), John Alstrom (Stanford), Jason Gan, Eric Pfister (Navy) and Peter Eastman who all started for the 1987 CIF champion Sailors.

The 1990’s alumni include Russell Gan (Pacific), Justin McIntee (Vanguard), Mark McAnlis (Princeton) and Beau Sheward.

When speaking about alumni, we need to remember those that we have lost.

Kyle Slaughter (UCSB) might have been the best pure volleyball player in Newport history. An automobile accident took him during his college career.

The late Billy Nguyen (Pacific) was an outstanding player in the ‘90’s who we unfortunately lost also in an automobile accident.

CHARLIE BRANDE is a former head coach of Corona del Mar High, Newport Harbor and UC Irvine volleyball programs.