CdM sweep meets mark

Barry Faulkner

Not being one to disrespect the opposition, Corona del Mar High boys

volleyball coach Steve Conti would never say the real opponent in

Thursday’s Pacific Coast League waltz through visiting Calvary Chapel

was the Sea Kings’ high expectations for their own level of play.

But it’s not as if the Sea Kings (18-5, 4-0 in league), ranked No.

4 in CIF Southern Section Division II, aren’t used to providing their

own best competition.

“Our practices are as competitive as anyone in the county,” Conti

said after his squad earned the 25-10, 25-9, 25-20 victory that

extended the program’s league winning streak to 24 matches. CdM is

39-5 in Pacific Coast League matches since 2001.

“We have some really good players sitting on our bench, which can

be both good and bad. The good thing is, our guys are always pushing

themselves to get better. But the bad thing is, we have guys not

starting who, in many other years, would be starters.”

Just as in Tuesday’s three-game sweep of the Eagles (6-5, 0-4),

Conti used Thursday’s blowout to provide as much playing time for

those “reserves” as possible.

“I tried to play everyone in two games or at least 1 1/2 games,”

Conti said. “With 15 guys, that isn’t the easiest thing to do.”

Conti said his team’s strong practice Wednesday, a contrast to the

Monday practice that preceded Tuesday’s victory over Calvary Chapel,

made things easier Thursday.

“That first practice after spring break wasn’t that great,” Conti

said. “I’m not sure we got too much out of Tuesday’s match, because

of that [poor practice].

“But we had a very competitive practice [Wednesday] and I think

that showed in the first two games. I think we got something out of

[Thursday’s win].”

CdM dominated the first two games, before Calvary created some

suspense in the third game.

The Eagles, who boast only two seniors -- to 10 for the Sea Kings

-- erased a 5-1 deficit to pull even at 9-9. The visitors broke an

11-11 deadlock with three straight points on three straight CdM

miscues and led, 15-13 and 16-14, before CdM regained control.

A Gabe Gonzalez ace, one of the hosts’ 12 in the match, gave CdM a

17-16 advantage and a kill by Ted Slaughter made it 18-16 Sea Kings.

After a Calvary point, CdM scored on Blaine Nielsen’s kill off a

blocker, followed by a Tom Welch stuff block and an ace by Nielsen.

Calvary Coach Greg Steinhaus called timeout, but Slaughter pounded

a quickset off a block to put the Sea Kings’ up, 22-17. The Sea Kings

went on to finish out the match with little trouble.

“Calvary served real tough and we didn’t control the ball very

well Tuesday,” Conti said. “Our goal tonight was to get our middles

going, which meant we had to improve our passing. I thought we did

that.”

CdM senior setter Grant Almquist had 14 assists, while sophomore

Phil Bannan added 10, as the duo spread the opportunities to numerous

hitters.

Senior Austin Brawner had a team-high six kills, while sophomore

outside hitter Adam Smith and Slaughter, a 6-foot-7 middle blocker,

each had five.

Senior Kevin Welch had a team-high five digs and also led the

serving barrage with three aces.

Bannan, Nielsen, Tom Welch and senior Shane Collins each had two

aces to help make Calvary passers look overmatched much of the

contest.

CdM continues league play with a clash against visiting University

Tuesday, before traveling to Laguna Beach, ranked No. 3 in CIF

Division II, in what figures to be a first-place showdown.