Newport finishes fifth

POWAY — Newport Harbor High junior libero Connor Curry earned all-tournament honors after leading the Sailors to a fifth-place finish in the Best of the West Tournament Saturday at Epic Volleyball Club.

Newport Harbor defeated Long Beach Wilson, 25-21, 20-25, 15-13, in the fifth-place match, behind 15 kills from sophomore Cody Caldwell and 13 assists from Jackson Carmack.

Cailen Sullivan added four kills for the Tars (6-2).

Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn was pleased with the results, given that the Sailors were without three key players. JB Green is out with an Achilles injury sustained Monday, while Hamilton Day sprained his ankle and Darren Leggett suffered a knee injury Friday.

Glenn tried to make light of the situation by saying Friday the 13th proved cruel to the Sailors, but he knows a healthy team will be vital for a squad that was ranked No. 7 in the CIF Southern Section Division I coaches’ preseason poll.

Newport Harbor went 31-4 last year, reaching the Division I title match.

“I think our expectations are still really high,” Glenn said.

Maddox stepped in for Green and played well, as did Sullivan, taking Day’s spot and Carmack, holding it down for Legett, Glenn said.

“It’s a different type of team,” Glenn said of Newport Harbor. “We don’t have a ton of size, but we can dig a ton of balls. So in that sense, it’s a fun group to coach.”

Earlier Saturday, Newport Harbor defeated Rancho Bernardo, 18-25, 26-24, 15-11, topped St. Francis, 28-26, 25-20, and was defeated by San Clemente, 25-20, 25-20.

Caldwell had 14 kills against Rancho Bernardo, 10 against St. Francis and seven against San Clemente

Curry had 11 digs against St. Francis and chipped in six digs and two ace serves against Rancho Bernardo.

Kyle Lawrence had 15 assists against Rancho Bernardo and Michael Maddox contributed five kills against St. Francis.

The Sailors play host to Huntington Beach Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., before competing in the Orange County Championships during the weekend.

Corona del Mar

POWAY — The Sea Kings went 1-2 Saturday, falling to San Clemente and Poway, but beating Rancho Bernardo in between at Epic Volleyball Club.

CdM (5-2) opened with a tough loss to San Clemente, which won, 21-25, 25-22, 19-17. Dylan Davis led the way with 13 kills, while Connor Bannan had 20 assists and Tyler Haly added four kills.

The Sea Kings, ranked No. 5 in the CIF Southern Section Division I coaches’ poll, then beat Rancho Bernardo, 25-16, 25-17. Weston Nielsen had six kills. Haly and Spencer Haly had four kills each. Bannan had 19 assists

Bannan had another 19 assists against Poway, which won, 25-21, 25-23. Davis had nine kills and four digs.

CdM plays at Laguna Beach Wednesday.