Sailors Not Quite Ready Yet : 4-A volleyball: Newport Harbor, starting four juniors and a sophomore, beaten by more experienced San Marcos in four-game final.
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NORWALK — Youth was not served in the Southern Section 4-A volleyball playoffs Saturday night when San Marcos High School defeated Newport Harbor, 15-5, 15-10, 10-15, 15-6, in the championship match at Cerritos College.
The third-seeded Sailors, who start four juniors and a sophomore, couldn’t overcome the top-seeded Royals’ experienced blocking attack.
Senior Zak DeMatteo had 17 kills and senior Gabe Salvador added 10 kills and five blocks as San Marcos (18-1) won its 16th consecutive match.
Junior Beau Sheward had 21 kills to lead Newport Harbor, which entered the finals with a 13-match winning streak. Junior Justin McIntee added 16 kills for the Sailors (17-4).
“In a big game like this, the seniors are going to win it for you,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said. “We hope to be in this situation again next year, but maybe on the other end of the stick.”
San Marcos Coach Jon Lee said his five senior starters learned from last year’s playoffs, when the team made it to the semifinals.
“Experience is such a key in volleyball,” Lee said.
San Marcos had nine blocks in the first game, including four by outside hitter Gabe Salvador, to shut down Newport Harbor’s balanced attack of Sheward, Justin McIntee, Frank Griffo and Mark McAnlis.
“We had some trouble passing in the first game,” Glenn said. “And when we pass poorly, we are predictable with our hitting.”
Salvador and Zak DeMatteo each had two blocks as the Royals went on a 7-0 run to end the game.
After relying on defense in the first game, San Marcos got its offense going in the second. DeMatteo had five kills as San Marcos pulled away from a 6-6 tie with a 9-4 run.
Sheward and McAnlis finally got the Sailors going in the third game. Sheward had eight kills, and McAnlis added five as the Sailors ended the game with a 6-1 streak.
The Sailors raced to a 5-2 lead early in the fourth game, but San Marcos scored 13 of the next 14 points to take the game and match.
“I can’t say we played terrible tonight,” Glenn said. “But San Marcos was the better team, and they played well.”
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