Local trio goes out with style

NEWPORT BEACH — Corona del Mar High senior Phil Bannan made a perfect set, and Newport Harbor senior Weston Dunlap slammed it into an open area.

Yep, the cross-town rivals were on the same team Friday night at Newport Harbor High. No rubbing of eyes needed.

Bannan and Dunlap, along with CdM senior Blaine Nielsen, were playing for the South team in the 30th annual Dave Mohs Memorial Orange County High School Volleyball All-Star Matches. And, although the North came out on top, 25-22, 25-21, 13-15, it was more about the camaraderie and the acknowledgment of all the great players in attendance.

“It’s great,” said Nielsen, the UC Santa Barbara-bound outside hitter who finished with a South team-high seven kills and three service aces. “I’m surrounded by a bunch of great athletes here tonight, so it means a whole lot to be selected to this. It’s more playful, because we all know each other. We would have liked to win, but it’s more about the fun. It’s a good event, and it’s for a good cause.”

Dunlap, headed for UCLA, finished with six kills and two blocks. Bannan, who is UC San Diego-bound, had 11 assists.

“It’s a great end to the season,” Bannan said. “Not too much intensity, but a fun match overall. I feel honored to play in a match like this.”

The South team, coached by CdM’s Steve Conti and Scott Simpson of Foothill, led for much of Game 1 before the North squad surged in front late. In Game 2, the North was up, 18-13, before Nielsen came in and rattled off back-to-back aces off a powerful jump serve.

“I didn’t do much of that all season, so it was fun to come out here and give it a try,” Nielsen said. “To win the [CIF] championship, and to top it off with this is great. I’m very happy with how my senior year has gone.”

The North won the second game to effectively clinch the match, but the South squad kept fighting. Dunlap’s kill in Game 3 gave the South an 11-10 lead that they held on to, ending thoughts of a three-game sweep.

Conti said having Nielsen and Bannan compete in the all-star match was just the conclusion of a great year for CdM.

“I’m sure they would have liked to win tonight,” Conti said. “But, for the most part, this team was able to accomplish most of its goals this year — winning the CIF title, winning a major tournament [Best of the West], beating our cross-town rival Newport Harbor. They also had the all-CIF academic award for the highest G.P.A. for boys’ volleyball.”

Kevin Carroll of Los Alamitos, headed for UC Irvine, had five kills for the North and was named match MVP. Edison middle blocker Phil Darin, headed for UCLA with Dunlap, tied Nielsen for the match-high kills total, also recording seven.

UCI-bound Bryce Danker, of Esperanza, had six kills and three blocks for the North. Orange Coast College-bound Michael Stewart, of Woodbridge, had two kills for the South.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 9566-4614 or at [email protected].