Newport Harbor Sweeps Corona del Mar in First Battle of the Bay Meeting, Score 3-0

Newport Beach – Ralph K. Reed Gymnasium (NHHS)

The Newport Harbor girls volleyball team won its first of two Battle of the Bay matches against Back Bay rival Corona Del Mar, winning 25-22, 25-14, 25-17 on Saturday at Newport Harbor High School.

The first was a tight one with the two teams tied 7-7, but a 4-0 run by the Sailors had them up 11-7. The lead stretched 18-12, but the Sea Kings responded with five straight points to make the lead 18-17.

Newport Harbor responded with a 4-1 and didn’t look back, as it took the set 25-22 despite needing three set points to win it off a kill from Kayden Clousing.

Leading 8-6 in set two, the Sailors used a 4-0 run to push its lead to 12-6 and from there, the Sea Kings got no closer than five points. One player who stepped up for the Sailors was Piper Coady, who had seven kills in the set.

Newport Harbor started the third set off scoring the first three points and eventually led 12-6, prompting a time out from Corona Del Mar. The Sailors led 16-9, but a 4-0 run from the Sea Kings gave them life to try and extend the match.

But a 4-1 run by the Sailors derailed those hopes, as they eventually closed the match with a kill from Ella Olson, The Sailors won their third straight match and have won three straight matches over Corona Del Mar – being via sweep.

Olson led Newport Harbor with 18 kills while Coady added 13 kills. Clousing chipped in seven kills and five blocks.

Corona Del Mar was led by Casi Doll who had 14 kills while Sofia Dajnowiec added 11 kills. Savannah Dennis added three kills while Sam Sullivan served up three service aces.

The two teams will face another again on Tuesday October 7 at Corona Del Mar High School.

The Sailors (21-7, 7-1) resume league play Monday when they play at Los Alamitos in match for first place in the Sunset League at 5:30 p.m. The Sailors lost the first league meeting to the Griffins, but beat them in the Durango Tournament in Las Vegas a week ago.

The Sea Kings (12-11, 2-5) are back in action Monday when they host Marina in a pivotal league match at 5:45 p.m. The Vikings won the first meeting in five at Marina, as Monday’s match could have implications on who will finish in the top four in the Sunset League, automatically qualifying for the CIF-SS Playoffs.