Caldwell to trigger offense

Dan Glenn’s Newport Harbor High boys’ volleyball team is in store for a few puzzled looks this season when it trots onto the court to begin a match.

The Sailors will send 6-foot-8 junior Kyle Caldwell in to play setter. It might seem like a half-baked plan to have the tallest player on the team playing a position filled by those of shorter stature, but the move has been in the works for two seasons.

“I said from day one, ‘You’ll be a setter,’ ” Glenn said. “I think he’s a natural.”

The Sailors (4-4) start out the year ranked No. 6-ranked in CIF Southern Section Division I.

Glenn knew this season there would be a void at setter. Ted Slater, a first-team All-Sea View League honoree, graduated after last season and without a proven setter there was an opening.

So Glenn told Caldwell he would need to switch from opposite to setter. Caldwell regularly displayed his passing ability as a two-year varsity starter on the basketball team, which gives Glenn confidence his plan will prove fruitful.

“He’s going to be a very offensive setter,” Glenn quickly pointed out. “He has great hands. He could be a phenomenal setter.”

For now, the key word is “could.” Caldwell is out for three weeks with a stress fracture in his foot, which he played with at the end of the basketball season. Caldwell has been at practice working on his setting and Glenn is not worried about his ability to jump right in once he’s healthy.

“He’s the type of kid that could be out for a long time and not get rusty,” said Glenn, who believes Caldwell can play both volleyball and basketball because of that.

The Sailors might benefit in the long term because 6-2 sophomore Darren Leggett will receive plenty of playing time at setter, a position he is expected to fill in the future.

“In the long run, it will help us,” Glenn said.

Newport Harbor still retains a strong offensive and defensive force in 6-7 senior middle blocker Weston Dunlap who will play for UCLA next season.

Max Volz, a 6-4 junior, will also see time in the middle.

The Sailors have other holes to fill from last season’s graduating class. First-team all-league players Brett Auer, an outside hitter, and libero Sean Grubbs are gone. Grubbs was also a first-team All-CIF Division I selection.

The Sailors added the opposite hitter position to the list of openings at the beginning of the season with Caldwell’s move to setter.

Tucker Peleuses, a 6-4 junior, has taken the opposite position, moving over from middle blocker.

“He’s strong, he just has to learn that position,” Glenn said. “He’s got some learning to do. Hopefully by the middle of the season he’ll have it down. The right side, everything comes to that direction. Attacking, you just have to learn how to hit from the back row.”

As for outside hitter, the Sailors will use a rotation of players, each of whom bring a different skill set. Mark Liebermann at 6-4 has the size, sophomore J.B. Green has strong ball control, senior Chad Stassel brings athleticism from basketball and senior Boyd Tyrrell-Grubbs is talented in every area.

Junior Jamie Galey will have the task of filling Grubbs’ shoes. Junior Andrew Kaban will be the Sailors’ defensive specialist.

“He was the best high school libero last season,” Glenn said of Grubbs.

The difficulties do not stop at replacing players. The Sailors, who lost in the first round of playoffs last season, move into the Sunset League this season where a playoff spot will be tough to come by. Los Alamitos and Edison are ranked No. 2 and No. 10, respectively.

“Weston and Kyle, those are the two guys that have to lead us,” Glenn said. “Our goal is to be playing our best volleyball by the beginning of Sunset League play. Hopefully the big guy is back in time.”

Newport opened the season with a loss to Laguna Beach, then went 4-3 to finish 10th in the Best of the West Tournament in San Diego.

They visit Huntington Beach Wednesday at 5:45 p.m.

THE SAILORS

3 Chad Stassel Sr.

5 Jamie Galey Jr.

6 Weston Dunlap Sr.

7 Scott Lawler Sr.

9 Jimmy Pantoskey Jr.

10 Darren Leggett So.

11 Mark Liebermann Jr.

12 Boyd Tyrell-Grubbs Sr.

13 Max Volz Jr.

17 Tucker Peleuses Jr.

20 Kyle Caldwell Jr.

25 J.B. Green So.

26 Andrew Kaban Jr.

Coach: Dan Glenn

(21st season)