Sea Kings sweep Uni

Joseph Boo

SAN DIEGO - After a disappointing finish in the CIF Southern

Section Division III-AA playoffs, the Corona del Mar High girls

volleyball team had a chance to redeem itself Tuesday night.

The Sea Kings took full advantage of that opportunity in the first round

of the CIF State Division III playoffs, downing host University of San

Diego High, 15-13, 15-6, 15-3.

With the win, CdM (21-9) gets a rematch against Harvard-Westlake in

Saturday night’s quarterfinals in North Hollywood. Harvard-Westlake, the

No. 2 seed, eliminated the Sea Kings in four games the section semifinals

and also swept them in a best-of-three tournament match at the San Marcos

Tournament earlier this season.

“We talked yesterday about having to weather the storm,” CdM Coach Steve

Conti said. “There were times in the semifinals when we panicked.”

CdM faced a hurricane at the start of the second game, when the Dons

(20-7) raced out to a 6-0 lead. Conti called a timeout to regroup his

team.

“I talk about being patient,” Conti told his team during the timeout.

CdM responded with one of those Biblical-sized storms, which wiped out

everything in its path.

After a sideout, Jamie Brownell’s kill started a 15-0 run by the Sea

Kings.

Brownell, a senior, had four of her 13 kills and five digs during the

onslaught. Jessica Edwards’ strong serving also provided a spark during

the run.

After the 15-0 surge, the deflated Dons simply collapsed in the final

game.

“I think, sometimes, we tend to overanalyze ourselves,” Conti said. “We

have to wrap ourselves in execution and take it one point at a time.”

By taking it one point at a time, CdM outlasted the San Diego Section

champions in the first game.

While Lauren Ognibene led the Dons with 15 kills, Uni simply had no

answer for Dimitra Havriluk. The senior outside hitter led CdM with 18

kills and seemed to stun the Uni home crowd with her powerful spikes.

Sisters Marissa and Jacqueline Becker also contributed heavily for the

winners. Jacqueline Becker led the Sea Kings with 42 assists, while her

sister sparkled on defense.

CdM also had key contributions from its bench. Edwards’ serving proved

problematic for the Dons as she had two aces and served five consecutive

points in the third game to build an insurmountable lead.

Katie Petry, Katie Duggan and Lindsay Anstandig all provided solid

defensive efforts off the bench.

The victory satisfied the Sea Kings’ thirst for a shot at revenge against

Harvard-Westlake.

“I think if our girls aren’t fired up, they better leave their uniforms

at home,” Conti said of Saturday’s showdown. “It’s the first thing the

girls mentioned after the match. They wanted the rematch and they’ll get

it.”