1 nationally by, fended off early challenges in each set from the San Diego Section’s Open Division titlist, riding an exceptional Luca Curci, some devastating service, and superb play in all corners to the 25-21, 25-19, 25-17 victory, their 31st sweep this season and 20th in 24 best-of-five encounters.

There was plenty to fête in the penultimate clash as the top-seeded Sailors, ranked No. It’s a great opportunity to battle and kind of celebrate them on the court.”

“The way that we’ve approached this is, ‘Hey, we’ve got some more time to play together, to be together, to enjoy the process.’ It’s a great opportunity for these guys to finish their season, the seniors finish their careers here their home gym. Our whole season kind of leads up to that tournament, so to do that, to go back to back in the sectional, is really special. “You talk all year about goals, and the section championship is the one that everybody talks about all year. ,” Newport Harbor coach Andrew Mabry said following the Sailors’ sweep of visiting San Diego Cathedral Catholic on Thursday. “For me, the legacy of this group is pretty significant. That’s on their minds, to be sure, but it’s simpler pleasures paving this path and whatever comes from it. They’ve already won three of the past four top-tier Southern Section titles, going back-to-back with last weekend’s sweep of Corona del Mar, and repeating last year’s regional triumph with a home victory in Saturday’s final against Los Angeles Loyola would bring bigger spoils: a third mythical national championship. One more win and Newport Harbor’s legacy in boys’ volleyball reaches towering heights, but that’s not what’s driving the dominant Sailors toward their third CIF State Southern California Regional Division I championship in four editions.

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