Battle of the Bay goes to CdM

NEWPORT BEACH ? The Newport Harbor High boys’ volleyball team hosted the Battle of the Back Bay last night against Corona del Mar.

On a night when the Sailors honored their senior players, the Sea Kings won the battle, 17-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-17, 17-15, in the regular season finale for both teams.

The Sailors (23-9), which slid out of the CIF Southern Section Division I rankings this week, got off to a promising start, taking the first two games.

“We had a game plan coming in, and in games one and two, we didn’t stick to it,” Sea Kings Coach Steve Conti said.

The game plan Conti was referring to was keeping the ball away from Newport Harbor’s Sean Grubbs.

“He’s probably one of the best passers and best defenders in the entire county,” Conti said of Grubbs.

To prove Conti right, Grubbs finished with a match-high 20 digs.

Although Newport Harbor won the first two games, the Sea Kings (24-5) hung in and came back to win the next three.

“It’s disappointing to lose when you’re up, 2-0, in your own gym,” Sailors Coach Dan Glenn said.

Game five was a nail biter as both teams battled back and forth for game point until the Sea Kings, ranked No. 3 in Division II, finally took over.

For Corona del Mar, senior Scott Slaughter had 18 kills and five blocks, while sophomore Gus Ellis chipped in with 17 kills and eight blocks. Setter Phil Bannon put up two service aces and 51 assists. Blaine Nielsen, Adam Smith and Spencer Brown showed a solid defensive effort with six digs apiece.

Sophomore Kyle Caldwell led the way for the Sailors with a match-high 23 kills, and also added six digs and four blocks. Setter Ted Slater put up a match-high 63 assists and also had six digs. Outside hitter Brett Auer put in a solid effort with 18 kills, eight digs and one service ace, while middle blocker Weston Dunlap added 15 kills and two blocks.

Although the record will show the Sailors lost the match, Glenn said he won’t think of it that way.

“I don’t think we really lost, I think Corona came out and won,” Glenn said.

Pairings for the CIF Southern Section boys’ volleyball playoffs will be released Monday.

dpt-volley06.IMGGraphicInfo8K1QMSO6200605068K1QMSO6No Captiondpt-volley06.IMG0GraphicInfo8K1QMSO8200605068K1QMSO8No Caption