* VOLLEYBALL: Outside hitter Poyer Poia tallied 24 kills while
Kaimana Kamalani added 19 kills and 12 digs to lead host Orange Coast
College to a 26-30, 30-28, 27-30, 30-20, 15-8 nonconference victory
over Wisconsin-based Cardinal Stritch Friday.
Down, 2-1 in games, the Pirates slammed Cardinal Stritch with a
30-20 setback in Game 4.
Freshman setter Mike Murphy provided the spark the Bucs needed to
get over the hump in Game 4. He stepped back to the service line and
fired the team to nine consecutive points, posting a pair of aces
during the stretch, to help the Pirates to a 19-10 lead.
The Wolves called time out, regrouped and were able to close to
22-19, but Kamalani put away a kill and then recorded ace of his own
to push the lead back to five. A service error gave the ball back to
Stritch, but a blocking error put the ball back in Coast hands and
the Pirates were able to run the table to even the match at two games
apiece.
The Coast defense stepped up its play in the final two games, led
by libero Kaione Scott (nine digs), and Dane Gilliam (four blocks).
Murphy finished with 39 assists as Coast improved to 12-4.
Orange Coast returns to conference play on Wednesday when it hosts
Irvine Valley at 7 p.m.
Tars upset Aztecs, split
* VOLLEYBALL: The Newport Harbor High boys volleyball team upset
Esperanza, ranked No. 2 in Orange County, 15-10, 17-15, to create a
Division I pool play split on the opening day of the Orange County
Championships Friday at Edison High.
The Sailors (4-5 including best-of-three matches) let leads slip
away in both games of a 15-12, 15-13 loss to Mission Viejo, also
Friday.
Senior Mike Toole had a team-high 10 kills against Mission Viejo,
then was joined by senior Paul Toman with 10 kills apiece against
Esperanza.
Junior setter Adam Schlesinger had 44 of his combined 75 assists
against Esperanza.
The Tars conclude pool play today at 8 a.m. against host Edison.
If they can gain a top-two finish in their pool, the would open the
championship playoffs at 11 a.m. at Edison. Should they fail to
finish in the top two, they would play in consolation matches at
Marina High.
Mesa falls in three
* VOLLEYBALL: Costa Mesa High's boys volleyball team, despite
some standout blocking efforts from Garrett Walthers and John Santos,
suffered a 15-4, 15-5, 15-7 nonleague loss at Western Friday, falling
to 1-5.
The Mustangs open Golden West league play on Wednesday, hosting
Orange.
Eagles sparkle
* SWIMMING: Anthony Hermann tallied a personal best in the
