Newport Harbor girls’ volleyball sweeps Los Osos to begin playoff run
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Newport Harbor’s girls’ volleyball team has firepower all over the floor, and largely healthy at last, the Sailors have been able to showcase that talent of late.
Ella Olson and Piper Coady combined for 30 kills, the star pin hitters helping the top-seeded hosts put away Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos, 25-21, 25-10, 25-23, on Tuesday in the opening round of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs.
At times this season, Olson and Cody both wore a libero jersey, limited to defensive and passing duties as they nursed injuries. With them now swinging away, Newport Harbor (28-6) will be a favorite in its hunt for a ninth section title, the last coming in 2009.
“Since we went to Vegas for [the Durango Fall Classic], we’ve kind of found ourselves a lot more,” Olson said. “Definitely having everybody back on the court with full health, it’s probably only been a [few] weeks — three or four — and I mean everybody feels a lot better.
“We look around and trust each other … We all bonded through all the injuries and stuff. We had to show up for one another, so it was a positive thing in the end for us.”
Newport Harbor has gone 15-2 since a Sept. 8 loss to Los Alamitos. A second loss to the Griffins — in five sets on Sept. 30 — sealed the Sailors’ fate as the runner-up in the Sunset League, and it may have equally played a hand in them finishing outside the eight-team field in Division 1. Los Alamitos (29-6) is seeded sixth in the top bracket.
“It’s unfortunate that we got dropped from [Division 1], but Division 2, if you look at the group, those are great teams,” Newport Harbor coach Pat Eaton said. “Los Osos is a really good team. To get a team like that in the first round, with those types of players, that caliber of players, it’s a credit to where volleyball’s at in our state right now.”
Newport Harbor will visit Redondo Union (20-11), a straight-sets winner over Crean Lutheran on Tuesday, in a quarterfinal next week.
Olson, a Texas-bound outside hitter, was presented with an Under Armour All-American jersey prior to the contest. She proceeded to deliver a match-high 16 kills and two service aces, spraying a single hitting error.
“She has put in a lot of work, and she is reaping the benefit of that work,” Eaton said of Olson. “It’s just so special to have a kid that gets to that level. I’ve coached so many players. She’s as good as any player I’ve coached, but more than anything else, she’s just a great person, and so good things happen to good people.”
As Olson walked by during the post-game interview, Eaton raised his voice so she could hear him.
“That’s why she gets that jersey, because she’s such a good person,” he exclaimed, adding, “I think she does a great job representing herself, her family, and our program more than anything else. We’re proud of her and excited to watch her play at that big level.”
Coady, an Indiana-committed outside hitter, contributed 14 kills and two block assists. Middle blocker Morgan Starkenburg, a Pepperdine commit, had seven kills and two block assists, and opposite Vladimira Kotzakov chipped in with six kills and a block assist.
Avery Hansen, a sophomore asked to assume a bigger role when starting setter Kinsley LaBonty suffered a season-ending ligament tear in a foot two weeks into the campaign, had 41 assists, three aces and a block assist. She has earned high praise from Eaton, who called Hansen the Sailors’ “most improved player,” and from her teammates.
“I think she’s literally willing to try everything,” Coady said. “She will do it until she gets it, just like rep after rep after rep. She’s getting so much better running combos, different plays, the middles on different routes, and she’s even getting better blocking.”
Outside hitter Josslyn Jacks led Los Osos (22-7), which shared the Baseline League championship with Etiwanda, with seven kills. Chloe Taylor, taking turns at opposite and setter, finished with six kills, 11 assists and 2½ total blocks.
Also in the CIF Southern Section girls’ volleyball playoffs:
Rancho Cucamonga 3, Laguna Beach 1: The visiting Breakers suffered a 25-13, 16-25, 25-21, 25-21 defeat Tuesday in their Division 4 playoff opener.
Laguna Beach (14-17) shared the Pacific Hills League championship with Irvine this season.
Newport Christian 3, Los Angeles New Covenant Academy 0: The host Seahawks earned a straight-sets win on Tuesday to advance to the second round of the Division 11 bracket.
Newport Christian (12-3) will travel to face Simi Valley Grace (7-9) on Thursday.
