Harvard-Westlake Gets No Respect

MANHATTAN BEACH —  After dropping two places in the latest Southern Section Division I boys’ volleyball poll, Harvard-Westlake was looking for a little respect Friday night against top-ranked Mira Costa.

The message was delivered by the Wolverines, who pushed the host Mustangs for three games before falling, 12-15, 16-14, 16-14, 15-7 in a nonleague match at Mira Costa.

Harvard inexplicably dropped from fourth place to sixth in the poll without losing a match. But the Southern Section may have to rethink the Wolverines’ playoff seeding following an impressive showing against the Mustangs.

The Wolverines had a chance to go up in games, 2-1, after fending off four game points to tie the score, 14-14, but 6-foot-10 outside hitter Adam Naeve had two consecutive blocks to give Mira Costa the game.

“The end of that game decided the match,” Mira Costa Coach Mike Cook said. “It’s a psychological thing. We would have let down too after fighting like that.”

Mira Costa (15-0) jumped to a 6-0 lead in the fourth game behind seven kills by Naeve and was not seriously threatened.

But Harvard (17-1) grabbed the Mustangs’ attention from the opening serve, winning the first point, then alternating 10 consecutive sideouts.

Rick Rauth put the Wolverines comfortably ahead in the first game with 10 kills. Harvard took advantage of passing errors by Mira Costa with a smooth passing game of its own to win the first game, 15-12.

Rauth, a senior outside hitter, was contained for most of the match, but still finished with 25 kills. Junior Trevor Julian also had 25 kills and Tom Dowd added 16.

“The first game was some of the best volleyball we played all year,” said Wolverine setter Jason Morrow. “With too good teams nobody is going to make a run of points. Both teams are too good.”

In the second game, Mira Costa went more often to Naeve, who has signed with UCLA, and the strategy worked. Naeve had 11 kills in the second game and 31 in the match. He also had 12 blocks as the Mustangs enjoyed a significant height advantage.

The Wolverines regained their composure in the third game, taking a 9-6 lead. But the Mustangs fought back, tying the score, 10-10. They then overcame a 12-10 deficit behind Naeve and Brent Griebenow (15 kills).

Six-foot-five middle blocker Kevin Collins had 22 kills, 10 blocks and four aces.