Slaughter named MVP just in time

NEWPORT BEACH ? Through 95 combined points Friday night, Corona del Mar High senior Scott Slaughter was a ghost.

As the best-of-three boys’ portion of the Dave Mohs Memorial Orange County High School All-Star Volleyball Matches rolled a few points into the deciding game at Newport Harbor High, Slaughter had just one kill.

But the 6-foot-6 middle blocker crashed the party in the third game to lead the South to a 25-21, 20-25, 15-13 victory and seize the Most Valuable Player award.

Slaughter, who helped Corona del Mar reach the CIF Southern Section Division II title match last week, hammered a quick set for his second kill of the match to give the South a 3-2 lead in Game 3.

A Slaughter stuff block put the South up, 4-2, and his tip for a kill later widened the advantage to 6-3.

After the two teams battled to a 13-13 tie, Slaughter ? bound for UC Santa Barbara ? imposed his talent on the outcome, posting a kill and a stuff block to close out the win.

Then, as quickly as he’d appeared, he was gone.

“I went to change my shirt,” said Slaughter, who took several seconds to reappear after being announced as MVP.

He admitted he was surprised to be singled out for the top individual honor, but said he thoroughly enjoyed himself.

“This was fun,” he said. “I wish I had done more on offense.”

Slaughter finished with four kills and two stuff blocks.

Joining Slaughter on the victorious boys’ team were UC Irvine recruits Cory Yoder (San Clemente High) and Kevin Wynne (Capistrano Valley).

Yoder had one kill and Wynne contributed one stuff block.

Ryan Bagwell and Dallas Kopp, representing Costa Mesa and Estancia, respectively, each had a kill for the North, to which Newport Harbor setter Ted Slater contributed one ace serve and a handful of assists.

The North boys’ unit also included Newport Harbor libero Sean Grubbs and UCI-bound libero Kenny Webster, out of Edison.

Costa Mesa Coach Chris Komer was the North co-coach.

The North girls, including UCI-bound Alex Filkins from Los Alamitos, posted a 25-12, 21-25, 15-5 triumph over the South.

The South squad included Newport Harbor senior Bryana Carey and Sage Hill senior Cat Dailey. Carey will play collegiately at William & Mary, while Daily is bound for Cal.

Duke-bound Rachel Moss, representing Los Alamitos, was named MVP. Moss had two kills and served five straight points, including one ace and three winners, late in the deciding game.

The South girls’ staff included Sage Hill Coach Dan Thomassen.