Written By: Jarrtan Ellis-Josch & Nathan Medina 

An arm injury for senior star, Spencer Lawrence, did not phase the Sailors. They won the Best of the West invitational in San Diego. Spencer Lawrence had to sit this one out due to a strained tricep, similar to an injury that sophomore Dane Chalmers had previously this season. It was the second week of the month when Spencer, headed to Ohio State, got injured. Chalmers returned just last week, a couple of days before the Orange County Championships started on Friday.

Coach Ciarelli explained how he had never had two of his players suffer the same injury during his 30 years of coaching volleyball. Lawrence, Newport Harbor’s middle blocker, had the role of taking stats at the San Diego tournament. Despite missing Lawrence, who is planning returning Monday, the sailors beat the Chargers, 21-25, 25-15, 15-8, in the best-of-three finale.

Monroe, finishing with five kills, four coming in Game 2 to even the contest, earned the all-tournament MVP award. Cole Pender a junior outside hitter committed to UCLA, and Talley finished with 8 kills, made the all-tournament team.

Pender also lead Harbor to a 4-0 lead by producing two straight service aces. Sophomore Dayne Chalmers had a few kills as well, and Cole Pender and Drew Johnston recorded winners.

The game against Edison was a thriller, the opening set was back and forth until the chargers went on a 4-0 run going up 13-8. Both Corey Taylor an all-tournament selection, and Trent Williams had a block shot which got the team a significant lead.

James Carpenter and Joe Leas from Edison each recorded a block to turn away Pender, putting the Chargers ahead by 3 24-21. For the set point Conor Hanks an all-tournament selection and Kyle McCauley went up together to hold of Talley.

Edison also had the first points of the second game too, but being tied at 11-11 Chalmers a sophomore for Newport Harbor gave the sailors their first lead of the game.

Edison started to feel the pressure being down 13-11, so they decided to call a timeout. When the game resumed Harbor kept pushing to increase their lead.. Edison committed a net violation at a critical moment in the game and Pender followed it up by hammering a kill. They increased their lead by eight now being up 20-12. The match was one by the Newport Harbor Sailors and with all the momentum they additionally won the last match to take the game.