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Los Angeles Times
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Huntington Beach boys' volleyball snaps league title drought
Huntington Beach's high-powered attack has hammered its way through many an opponent this year, which left the boys' volleyball program on the cusp of an outright Sunset League title on Friday. When the Oilers finished the job at Newport Harbor, black-and-orange T-shirts were handed out to commemorate the accomplishment. As the second-ranked team in the CIF Southern Section power rankings, the Oilers surely have more season-long goals to strive for, but Huntington Beach coach Craig Pazanti felt this was a significant one. The Sunset League boasts schools that compete in the section's top playoff division with regularity, and with a 25-21, 12-25, 25-18, 25-21 win over the Sailors on Friday, the Oilers put the finishing touch on their first league title since 2016. 'It's a tough league,' Pazanti said. 'We've been one of the top teams in CIF for the last six, seven, eight years and still haven't won a league title.' Pazanti said the T-shirts arrived earlier that day after the Oilers clinched at least a share of the league championship with a straight-sets win at Edison on April 9. Huntington Beach (30-3, 11-0 in the Sunset League) can cap an undefeated run through the league with a win over Fountain Valley at home on Tuesday. After that, the Oilers will turn their attention to the CIF postseason, where they will embark on a quest to bring the program its sixth section championship. Pazanti led the Oilers to three consecutive CIF titles from 2013 to 2015, the spoils that came via a 121-match win streak from 2013 to 2016, by far the longest winning streak in section history. Huntington Beach had hoped to square off with top-ranked Manhattan Beach Mira Costa in the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions, but Chicago Marist beat both of the Southern Section favorites in about a five-hour span on April 5. 'We ran into a team that was playing pretty hot,' Pazanti noted. 'They were playing pretty well. I think they got their legs under them in that match on [April 3], when they lost at [Mira] Costa pretty badly, so they were kind of out for a little redemption, too... I think we really wanted to get a chance to play Mira Costa, but we still have a chance, so we control our own destiny at this point now. I think with the way the rankings are, we should be playing at home a lot of matches in the playoffs.' There are options on the floor for the Oilers, enhanced by the development of Justin Bulsombut in the middle. It has freed up Logan Hutnick (16 kills) and Ben Arguello (11 kills and two block assists) on the pins, and Nick Ganier (eight kills and three blocks assists) has to be accounted for at middle blocker. Then there's Colin Choi, who fits a mold that Pazanti has often tied to program success. The Oilers' coach is comforted by the defensive abilities in the back row of Choi, who also compiled 11 kills and three total blocks against the Sailors. 'The unsung hero every night is Colin Choi,' Pazanti said. 'He does all the little things. He's one-on-one a lot. When he gets his sets, he takes advantage of it. With him and [Aiden] Atencio, it's like having a second libero out there when he's in the back row because he's such a great passer [and] defender, but he can score. They're so focused on Ganier when he's in the front row. He gets a lot of one-on-ones, and he takes care of the ball when he gets those opportunities.' Choi's two brothers — Sinjin and Ethan — previously played for the Oilers, but he is the first to win a league title. With a chance to add on, he's hopeful the team can call in a favor from friends to strengthen their home-court advantage. 'I think a lot of the guys have a lot of connections, so I think if we really try, we can definitely fill up the gym,' Choi said. Kai Gan, charged with running the Oilers' offense, had 42 assists and two solo blocks. Newport Harbor (17-9, 6-5) has clinched a playoff spot. Four automatic postseason berths are allocated to the Sunset League, which consists of seven teams. The others will go to Corona del Mar (16-5, 9-2) and Edison (11-11, 6-4). The latest rankings released on Tuesday placed Newport Harbor ninth in the Southern Section. If only eight teams were taken in Division 1, and if the Sailors remained outside the threshold, the Sailors' prospects would improve dramatically in another bracket. The section will release its boys' volleyball playoff pairings on Saturday, April 26. Newport Harbor showed what it could do in making Huntington Beach work for every point down the stretch on Friday. Outside hitter JP Wardy had 10 of his match-best 25 kills in an explosive second set. 'A ton of buy-in through the whole match,' Newport Harbor coach Matt Johnson said of his team's performance. 'We just had endless and relentless effort, which is a big thing that we've been working on in practice of just going for the ball no matter what. I think that showed tonight. We just keep going, and we're capable of just continuing to go and go and go.' Opposite Henry Clemo added 15 kills and three block assists, outside hitter Wyatt Nichols had seven kills, and middle blocker Jack O'Brien chipped in with four kills and four block assists. Setter Charlie Von Der Ahe dished out 49 assists to go with 1½ blocks and a service ace. Newport Harbor will play in the Redondo Tournament this weekend, where Johnson said the Sailors will be in a 'power pool' that includes Edison, San Diego Torrey Pines (17-2) and the host Sea Hawks, who are 24-4 overall. 'That's going to be a great day of volleyball,' Johnson added.
Los Angeles Times
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Daily Pilot Girls' Water Polo Dream Team: Newport Harbor enjoyed gift of Gabby
Gabby Alexson came into every match for the Newport Harbor High girls' water polo team knowing the opponent would likely run a drop defense. The plan involved limiting the sophomore center in front of the cage, forcing her teammates to take outside shots. It's a strategy that Alexson could take as a compliment. She also took it as motivation. 'It almost gives me more drive to be able to go and beat that,' she said. 'I don't want them to break down my play.' Alexson had three Orange Lutheran players in the vicinity as she scored the biggest goal of the Sailors' season on Feb. 18. She still took the excellent entry pass from fellow sophomore Madison Mack, turned and scored, setting off a wild celebration at Orange Coast College. Newport Harbor had just dethroned the two-time defending CIF Southern Section Open Division champion in the semifinals, 12-11 in the second sudden-death overtime period, booking its own trip to the title match. Alexson, who shined for Newport Harbor all season at center, is the 2024-25 Daily Pilot Dream Team Player of the Year. The goal was symbolic of personal growth for Alexson, Sailors coach Ross Sinclair said. 'It was a big growing moment for her,' he said. 'Last year, I think she maybe would have tried to play for a call in that moment. In those moments, the refs want to see you finish.' Alexson, who stands 5-foot-9, turned into the primary center upon the graduation of Ryan Chalupnik, last year's Dream Team Player of the Year. She provided mentorship for freshman Caroline Daniel, another two-meter player with big-time potential. Alexson shared Sunset League MVP honors with teammate Emerson Mulvey and was a first-team All-CIF selection, also earning Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions all-tournament team accolades. The Sunset League champions finished third in Santa Barbara, a position they held for much of the season before dethroning Orange Lutheran and advancing to their first CIF final since 2022. Newport Harbor (26-6) lost to Oaks Christian in the Open Division title game but will return a deep team next year, as Sinclair regularly made six-for-six line changes. Last year, it was Alexson, Mack and Valery Verdugo as the three freshmen earning significant varsity minutes for the Sailors. This year, it was Daniel, Addison Ting and Campbell Pence. 'I think it's so cool that we have such young talent,' Alexson said. 'The three freshmen this year, I've been playing with them since I was 12, too. It's just really cool to have them all come together in high school.' Alexson will remain a player to watch. She's earned two USA Water Polo Junior Olympics titles with Newport, in the 12-and-under and 14U age groups, and hopes for another one this summer in 16U. She also has international experience, playing for the Cadet National Team at the Pan Am U19 Championships in El Salvador and the U16 World Championships in Turkey last year. At the Newport Harbor banquet this year, Sinclair introduced her as one of the best centers in the country, easily in high school. The praise makes Alexson smile. She knows she'll put in the work to back them up. 'I feel like a lot of my hard work has been paying off,' she said. 'I just don't want to hit a peak. I want to keep on going up … If Ross thinks that I'm elite, then I have to keep on training like that.' Here's a look at the coach of the year, first-team and second-team honorees on this year's Dream Team. Katie Teets Laguna Beach Teets, in her second season in charge of the Breakers, guided a team with three senior captains but relatively little varsity experience behind that. Laguna Beach (20-12) started the season 0-6, but gained momentum toward the end and made a run that culminated in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 title, the program's eighth CIF championship. The 10-9 win over San Clemente was Laguna Beach's third sudden-death victory of the season, and Teets earned CIF Coach of the Year accolades. Reagan Weir 2M | Corona del Mar | Sr. A four-year varsity player for the Sea Kings, the Stanford-bound Weir remained a force as a senior while serving as a valuable mentor to CdM freshmen centers Camryn Spruill and Keira Bethell. Weir scored a team-best 103 goals for CdM (19-11), helping the team finish runner-up in the Sunset League and advance to the Open Division playoffs. A first-team all-league and all-CIF selection, she also drew 56 exclusions. Harper Price UTIL | Newport Harbor| Sr. Sinclair referred to Price as the Sailors' iron woman and blue-collar worker, helping out in multiple areas and especially as a standout defender. Price, bound for UC Berkeley, is a repeat first-team Dream Team selection and was a first-team All-Sunset League pick. Presley Jones ATT | Laguna Beach | Sr. Always one of the smartest players in the pool, Jones has earned multiple USA Water Polo Junior Olympics titles but capped her high school career with her first CIF championship. The Pacific Coast League MVP and Division 1 Player of the Year put away the winning penalty shot, drawn by senior teammate Kara Carver, in the CIF final. Jones, bound for UCLA, tallied 72 goals and team-best totals of 61 assists and 70 steals. Maya Tovar ATT| Huntington Beach | Jr. Tovar returned from a year away from high school water polo to excel as a junior for first-year head coach Kelly Doherty. One of the Oilers' leaders on offense, she performed well in high-pressure situations, helping Huntington Beach (12-14) finish third in the rugged Sunset League and advance to the Division 1 playoffs. Maya Tovar, whose younger sister Leila was a freshman on the team, was a first-team all-league selection. Gaby Kelly ATT | Edison | Sr. First-year head coach Eric Perales didn't know if Kelly would return to the team this year, as she spent the early part of the season overseas. But she came back and was a key player again for the Chargers. Kelly, bound for UC Santa Barbara for swimming, helped Edison (15-15) finish fourth in the Sunset League and advance to the second round of the Division 2 playoffs. She was a first-team All-CIF selection. Didi Evans ATT | Corona del Mar | Sr. The left-handed attacker was a four-year varsity player who will be missed at CdM. Bound for Princeton, she was second on the team with 76 goals and led the squad with 88 assists. She was a first-team All-Sunset League selection and ended her sparkling career as a two-time CIF Southern Section Division 1 champion, starting for both teams as a freshman and junior, respectively. Kara Carver ATT | Laguna Beach| Sr. Carver missed much of December due to sickness, but was undoubtedly a key piece as the Breakers came together at the end of the season, joining older sisters Rachael and Hannah in bringing the program a CIF title. Despite missing that time, Kara, a dynamic player bound for USC, finished with a team-best 73 goals along with 29 assists and 57 steals. A repeat first-team Dream Team selection, she was also first-team All-CIF. Emerson Mulvey UTIL| Newport Harbor| Soph. A transfer from Mater Dei, Mulvey quickly turned into a leader inside and out of the water for the Sailors. A hard worker and vocal in practice, she was an all-tournament team selection at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions and shared the Sunset League MVP award with Alexson. Mulvey also earned first-team All-CIF accolades. Lydia Soderberg GK | Newport Harbor| Sr. The Sailors saw Soderberg become a more consistent standout in her second year starting between the pipes, becoming more explosive and getting off her line quicker. She also showed the ability to block her fair share of penalty shots. Soderberg, bound for UC Santa Barbara, was a second-team All-Sunset League selection. Position, Name, School, Year GK Gabby MacAfee, Corona del Mar, Sr. ATT Kaila Wesley, Fountain Valley, Sr. DEF Madison Emerson, Edison, Sr. ATT Valery Verdugo, Newport Harbor, Soph. UTIL Lily Franzese, Huntington Beach, Jr. UTIL Gaby Zifcak, Ocean View, Jr. 2M Sophia Winters, Costa Mesa, Sr. ATT Brooke Shumard, Marina, Soph. GK Siena Jumani, Laguna Beach, Sr.
Los Angeles Times
26-01-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Newport Harbor girls' water polo places third at Newport Invite
The girls' water polo season is in the home stretch, and local teams continued jockeying for position over the weekend. Newport Harbor and Laguna Beach competed at the Newport Invite at Foothill High. The Sailors earned a familiar third-place finish on Saturday as the hosts, while Laguna Beach placed sixth in the eight-team field. CdM, meanwhile, hosted the Irvine Southern California Championships. The Sea Kings nearly won the title but lost in a nail-biter to Long Beach Wilson. Newport Harbor (20-5) had consecutive losses for the first time all season, falling to Orange Lutheran in group play and Mater Dei in the Newport Invite semifinals on Saturday morning. But the Sailors were able to finish the tournament strong, pulling away from Oaks Christian for a 12-7 victory in the third-place match. Kennedy Fahey paced the Sailors with three goals, while Gabby Alexson and Emerson Mulvey each scored twice. Freshman Caroline Daniel also had a strong match with a goal, two steals, plus three ejections and and a penalty shot earned. 'It was a good response after two tough losses,' Sailors coach Ross Sinclair said. 'Playing five games in this tournament is tough. The second half, we did a good job of making the right adjustments, executing on offense and playing a little bit better defensively. Overall, it was a good weekend and a good way to finish the tournament.' Mater Dei went on to win the tournament, beating Orange Lutheran 14-12 in overtime in the title match. The Monarchs won the Bill Barnett Holiday Cup, Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions and Newport Invite this season, becoming the first team to accomplish that feat in the four years that the Newport Invite has been played. Mater Dei advanced to the final with a 10-7 semifinal win over Newport Harbor, avenging a nonleague loss four days earlier. The Monarchs were one-for-12 on the power play in that match, but on Saturday they converted six power-play opportunities as well as two penalty shots. Kirra Pantaleon paced the Monarchs with four goals in the semifinal match. 'We weren't really decisive defensively,' Sinclair said. 'You know, you've got to be a lot more disciplined. The exclusions that we took were out of character, and those are things that we need to clean up as it gets close to the postseason. Against a team like [Mater Dei] that's ultra-talented, we've got to be a lot better and disciplined in the exclusions that we do take, versus the ones that we took this morning.' Alexson and Valery Verdugo each scored twice for the Sailors in the loss, with Alexson drawing five ejections. Senior goalkeeper Lydia Soderberg made eight saves. 'I think we were able to stay very positive throughout the weekend, even though we had some big losses,' Verdugo said. 'Going into CIF, we definitely have the mentality that we want to win. Over the next few practices and few weeks that we have, we're just going to give our all.' Senior Harper Price said there was definitely a desire to do well, especially considering Newport Harbor was hosting the tournament. 'I think since the win against Mater Dei, we've played with a lot of confidence,' Price said. 'We realized we can do this, we've got this. I think that helped us a lot this past weekend.' Newport Harbor plays at Corona del Mar in the Battle of the Bay rivalry match on Tuesday at 5 p.m., the regular-season finale for both programs. The match will decide the Sunset League title; both teams come in 5-0 in league. Laguna Beach (13-11) split a pair of matches Saturday at the Newport Invite, but a 7-6 win over Foothill in the fifth-place semifinal was perhaps the Breakers' biggest win of the year so far. Senior Presley Jones scored the match-winning goal in the fourth overtime period, putting away a lob on the counterattack. Laguna Beach scavenged an earlier loss to Foothill and held the Knights scoreless for the final 26-plus minutes of the match, after Foothill took a 6-1 halftime advantage. 'That was honestly probably one of my favorite wins that I've been a part of,' said Jones, who scored twice for the Breakers. 'We definitely dug ourselves a hole in the first half, but at halftime, the message of the coaching staff was just keep pushing. We know we're not the deepest team, we don't have the biggest bench, but we really came out with a new wave of energy in the second half and it really felt like a new game.' Laguna senior goalkeeper Siena Jumani came up big with 13 saves in the match, including one in the first of two sudden-death overtime periods to keep the team alive. Senior Kara Carver led the squad with three goals and junior Daniela Suh had a counterattack goal late in the third quarter to help start the rally. Breakers coach Katie Teets said she was very proud of her team, which won despite having three players foul out, including starting set defender Ava Guziak. 'We started off 0-6 and this group was new to each other,' Teets said. 'Not new to Laguna, but just filling in places from a huge senior class the year before. We took some time to find our flow together, and I think it's really paying off now.' The Breakers fell 15-8 to San Marcos in the tournament fifth-place match, with Jones scoring three goals and Liv Taub adding two more. Laguna Beach hosts JSerra on Monday for its senior night before participating in the Pacific Coast League tournament beginning Tuesday. Corona del Mar also felt that it exited the weekend with momentum. The Sea Kings have a new scoreboard on their pool deck, and they spent most of the weekend filling it up. CdM finished as runner-up at the Irvine Southern California Championships for the second straight year, dropping the title match 7-6 to Long Beach Wilson on Saturday. CdM (19-6) had a seven-match winning streak snapped. Josie Alaluf led the team with three goals in the title match, and Reagan Weir scored twice. The Sea Kings led 5-4 going into the final quarter, but the Bruins scored three straight goals, two from Katherine O'Dea. CdM got back within a goal when Didi Evans found Weir with 1:44 to play, but the equalizer didn't come. 'Our goal was to get to the finals, let's see if we can get a game against Wilson and we'll see how the cards fall,' CdM coach Marc Hunt said. 'We got what we wanted out of it, in the sense that we got to play the team we wanted to play in a good game that came down to the wire.' It was the teams' first matchup of the season. Weir, Kiana Wells and Keira Bethell each scored three goals for CdM in a 14-7 tournament semifinal win over Alta Loma earlier Saturday.
