Newport denied in showdown

NEWPORT BEACH — Newport Harbor High junior Kyle Caldwell had his first practice back from a foot injury on Monday.

On Tuesday, the Tars’ 6-foot-8 setter had his first match of the season against Esperanza, ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division I.

The Aztecs didn’t throw Caldwell a welcome-back party. Instead, they were the ones celebrating after a 25-18, 25-21, 25-21 Sunset League sweep of the Tars at Newport Harbor High.

“We played really well at times tonight,” said Sailors Coach Dan Glenn after watching his team fall to 11-8, 2-1 in the Sunset League. “We did some really good things. We just made errors at crunch time in all three games, and you can’t do that against a good team.”

Newport Harbor was in every game against Esperanza (17-4, 3-0). They were down just 17-15 in Game 1, until Esperanza scored eight of the game’s last 11 points for the win.

In Game 2, the Sailors pulled within 19-18 on a kill from senior Weston Dunlap, who had a team-high 13 kills. Another kill from Dunlap pulled them within 21-20, but Esperanza countered by taking three straight points to surge back into control.

“Except for the third game, we never really were ahead of them,” Sailors senior Boyd Tyrell-Grubbs said. “We never really got on top of them to shut them down. We played up to their level, but we just never pulled ahead at the right times.”

Newport Harbor had an even better chance in Game 3, leading early and tying the game at 15-15 on a kill from junior Tucker Peleuses. But the Sailors would never lead again, the game and match ending on a kill by Esperanza’s Bryce Danker off the back line.

Peleuses had 12 kills and three blocks. Mark Liebermann (eight), Max Volz (seven) and Caldwell (four) all contributed kills for Newport Harbor.

Glenn said he was impressed with Caldwell’s first match of the season.

“As he gets in better shape, he’ll be moving quicker on the court and be more offensive-minded,” Glenn said. “In the long run, he’s got to have that mindset. He had four kills tonight, but in a match like that, he needs like 10 or 12, from the setter position.”

If Newport Harbor wants revenge on Esperanza, it won’t have to wait long to get it. The two teams play again on Thursday at Esperanza.

“We’re going to be fired up,” Peleuses said. “Definitely.”