CdM seeks CIF crown

Bryce Alderton

The numerals next to the division may have changed, but the No.

1-seeded Corona del Mar High girls water polo team finds itself in

familiar territory -- a date in the final of the CIF Southern Section

Division II Playoffs today against Villa Park at 5:30 p.m. at Belmont

Plaza.

In the same pool last year, the Sea Kings won their first title in

girls water polo history, an 11-6 decision over El Dorado, in

Division IV.

CdM senior Brittney Bowlus scored three times while teammates

Danielle Carlson and Daniela DiGiacomo each found the back of the

cage twice in that game.

Carlson continued her assault throughout this season, leading CdM

(25-5) in goals (79) and assists (37), while tying senior Christina

Hewko for the team lead in steals (52).

Hewko, the Division IV Player of the Year last season and headed

to Stanford, has amassed 53 goals with 31 assists. Bowlus has found

the net 47 times, adding nine assists and 27 steals. She will play at

UCLA next fall.

CdM Coach Aaron Chaney said Division II is stronger because of

teams such as Canyon and Villa Park. CdM downed Canyon, 11-4, in the

semifinals Wednesday. Chaney expects stiffer competition from Villa

Park, which he said has improved a lot since the Sea Kings defeated

the Spartans, 11-7, in December.

“I told the girls (Thursday) that Villa Park would be the toughest

team we’ve played in the CIF Playoffs the last two years,” Chaney

said. “The Spartans have several excellent players. It’s not a one,

two or three-person team. They only lost to Santa Margarita by one

goal, so that should tell you how strong they are.”

Santa Margarita will face undefeated Foothill for the CIF Division

I championship at 8 p.m. at the same site.

Leading the Spartans’ charge are senior drivers Kara Colton, who

has scored 112 goals this season, and Kathryn Sullivan, along with

senior two-meter specialist Melissa Soria (77 goals).

“(Soria) being at the two meters is one of the reasons we’ve

improved so much,” said Villa Park assistant coach John Kulisich, who

has been with the program for 28 years.

Kulisich also said the play of sophomore goalkeeper Kristen Davis

(140 saves) has catapulted the Spartans (21-9), who have won 11 of

their last 13 games, to the brink of a championship.

Sullivan, who scored three goals in Villa Park’s 8-6 semifinal win

over second-seeded Laguna Beach, will be charged with guarding Bowlus

at two meters, a tough task for a girl Kulisich said gives up some

height, but one she will be willing to take.

“(Sullivan) is small, but she doesn’t back down from anyone,”

Kulisich said.

Bowlus scored five goals in CdM’s win over Canyon Wednesday.

Soria was out with a knee injury the first time the teams faced

one another.

The Spartans will have to contend with CdM’s quickness and

efficient ball control to win, Kulisich said.

Bowlus, Hewko, Carlson and DiGiacomo can all play at two meters,

giving Chaney several options for running the offense.

DiGiacomo bruised her knee when she fell off a balance board at a

team dinner earlier this week, but practiced Thursday and told Chaney

she felt fine.

CdM won the Pacific Coast League with a 4-0 record while Villa

Park went 5-0 to grab top honors in the Century League. Villa Park

last made the semifinals four years ago when Newport Harbor won in a

Division I game.

Kulisich assists head coach Joey Pacelli, whom Chaney praises for

the team’s success this season.

But the Spartans aren’t the only team to have benefited from

senior leadership of late.

“I’ve been impressed with our seniors,” Chaney said. “They’ve come

on throughout the playoffs and taken charge.”

Joining the aforementioned seniors will be Jessica Harkins, Kelli

Kline and Keelan Cuyler, all in their final prep water polo

appearance today.

CdM goalkeeper Brittany Fullen has a 4.45 goals-against average,

saving 62% of the shots headed her way. She has received strong

defensive support from junior Katya Eadington, who has amassed 39

steals with 21 goals. Junior Vivian Liao has tallied 19 goals while

freshman Camille Hewko, Christina’s sister, has found the net 15

times.

“I think the girls are excited and ready to play,” Chaney said.