Newport Harbor girls’ volleyball shows resilience in five-set defeat to Orange Lutheran
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RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA — Familiar faces can be found all over the court for the Newport Harbor High girls’ volleyball team.
After earning the top seed in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs and making a run to the quarterfinals last season, the Sailors believe they have the pieces to put together a memorable season.
The Trinity-Sunset League Showcase is one way the Sailors planned to test themselves in battle, and Newport Harbor acquitted itself well in a showdown with Orange Lutheran.
Senior outside hitter Anabel Kotzakov had a team-leading 19 kills, but Newport Harbor fell to Orange Lutheran 25-20, 19-25, 27-25, 17-25, 15-11 on Thursday in the showcase event at Santa Margarita High.
Senior outside hitter Paige Buzzerio had a match-high 21 kills for Orange Lutheran (9-3). The Naval Academy commit, now 18, celebrated her birthday with a five-set victory for the second straight season. The Lancers also beat Foothill in a five-setter on her birthday the season prior.
“One of the things we’re working on is our demeanor because we tend to have a lot of ups and downs,” Buzzerio said. “In that third set, we were up by a lot, and then we kind of started to dip. I think that’s one of the biggest takeaways because we just need to stay composed the whole time.”
Buzzerio and Kotzakov traded blows — each picking up five kills in the first set — but it was the Lancers that claimed the early advantage after the first game.
A seven-point run with Tegan Glenn at the service line bolstered Newport Harbor in the second set, helping the Sailors draw even at a set apiece.
Height in the front row paid dividends for the Lancers in the third set, four blocks staking Orange Lutheran to a 22-16 lead.
The Sailors rallied behind the play of Drue Coberly and Laine Briggs. Coberly had consecutive service aces to cut the deficit to 23-20, and Briggs also had back-to-back kills to stave off set points. Kotzakov dropped in a roll shot to tie the score at 24-24.
Senior outside hitter Londyn Giles, who finished with 11 kills and three aces, provided two kills after that point to help the Lancers close out the third game.
“I just think it’s a great opportunity for us to play a private school,” Briggs, a Pepperdine-bound outside hitter, said of competing in the Trinity-Sunset League Showcase. “I think it’s a fun opportunity. The drive down here is insane, but it’s worth it. It’s really fun.”
Again, Newport Harbor (4-2) answered after falling behind, the Sailors easily claiming the fourth set with balanced contributions. Senior middle blocker Malia Thorne and Briggs each had four kills in the set, while Kotzakov added three kills and her lone ace of the match.
Newport Harbor coach Andrew Mabry said the Sunset Conference is full of tough teams, adding that the Sailors want chances to measure themselves against top competition.
“That’s what this group has shown the whole season so far — a lot of resilience,” Mabry said. “It’s one of our themes. That’s something that we’re talking about every day, and we’re showing it.
“Sometimes, you put that work in, [and] you’re not always rewarded with the result right away. Many times in that match, we fought our way back and continued to push and try and fight for a result.”
Unable to keep the momentum, Newport Harbor dropped the fifth set and the match. Sophomore opposite Makalin Goehring, who had four total blocks, figured prominently in the Lancers’ fortunes, supplying three kills and a block in the final frame.
Junior middle blocker Zoe Gaa had seven kills and a block for Newport Harbor. Coberly finished with 31 assists and five aces, while Glenn tallied 16 assists, three aces and two kills.
Lilly Underwood handed out 20 assists for Orange Lutheran, and Naila Ia had three kills and two total blocks.
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