Ailing Sea Kings play host to rival Newport Harbor

The Battle of the Bay, more like “Recuperating by the Bay” for the Corona del Mar High boys’ volleyball team.

The top-ranked CIF Southern Section Division II program might be without two starters, and a backup just quit, when it plays host to rival Newport Harbor (19-11) in a nonleague match scheduled tonight at 6:45.

Coach Steve Conti isn’t too worried about the Sea Kings’ (27-2) regular-season finale before the playoffs. He said 6-foot-4 senior Blaine Nielsen, bound for UC Santa Barbara, has been out for a couple of weeks with a foot injury and junior Jeff Carlson for three days with a shoulder problem.

The Sailors will be looking to send CdM into the postseason with a loss.

Newport Harbor has won six straight, including Thursday’s sweep of Los Alamitos that gave them a share of second place in the Sunset League.

— David Carrillo Peñaloza