CdM nearly pulls it off

TORRANCE — The rematch Corona del Mar High wanted so badly with Laguna Beach is not going to happen.

The Sea Kings’ girls’ volleyball team fell in five games Tuesday to Bishop Montgomery in the CIF Southern Section Division II-AA semifinals. The Knights won, 17-25, 25-22, 25-14, 24-26, 15-11.

It means that there won’t be a repeat of last year’s division final between Laguna Beach and CdM, where the Sea Kings lost in four games.

For the Knights (23-10), the five-game victory was sweet revenge, after they lost to CdM last season in the division quarterfinals.

“Coming into this [match], we were really pumped, because they’re a big rival since we lost to them last year and they’re a really good team,” said Bishop Montgomery senior opposite hitter Jennifer Edmond. “To beat them felt really good. It felt like we were in the final.”

The No. 3-seeded Sea Kings (19-12), who hadn’t played a road match since a Nov. 2 loss at Newport Harbor, came out full of confidence and handily beat Bishop Montgomery in the first game.

But the No. 3-seeded Knights stayed with the Sea Kings through Game 2, collecting the game-winning point on a CdM error.

The Knights pulled away with a 17-14 lead in the third game, even though a controversial call on Bishop Montgomery gave CdM the point, its last of the game. Bishop Montgomery went on 8-0 run for the win as the Sea Kings either hit the ball out or into the net.

Even though they rebounded in a 26-24 win in the fourth game, the Sea Kings were still on edge.

“We were all getting a little frustrated with each other, and I think that had something to do with it,” said junior middle blocker Conley Kipp, who had two blocks for the Sea Kings. She agreed that when the Sea Kings get taken out of their game a bit, it starts to get inside their heads, something that’s characterized many of their losses this year.

“We all just needed to kind of calm down, take a breath and, with that team, we don’t have time to take a breath,” she said. “It just keeps going and going. I think that was a bummer for us because it kept us from being able to do what we needed to do.

“Once we start to lose a few points and they get on a run, I think we start to mentally break down a little bit.”

Down, 23-24, Kipp hit a clean kill in the middle to tie the score, and senior outside hitter Kara Chatham found a gap in the defense to put the Sea Kings up, 25-24.

It was Edmond’s miss, an attempt that fell just outside the right sideline, that gave the Sea Kings the last point for the 26-24 win, setting up the fifth and deciding game.

However, Edmond was able to effectively exploit the back middle for crucial kills that either kept the Sea Kings at bay, or kept the Knights on CdM’s heels when the hosts were trailing. She finished with 19 kills.

“We know they swing-block, and that is a big deal for our hitters because we like to hit fast and quick and low,” Edmond said. “To see that seam open, it helped us penetrate a lot. If we didn’t, they would for sure block us because they have the height advantage.”

CdM junior outside hitter Jenny Martin had 14 kills, and sophomore setter Madie Smith had 44 assists. Senior libero Ashley Pries had 23 digs.

“They played just a little bit harder, and it was two great teams and that’s it,” said CdM Coach Bill Christiansen. “That’s all I’ve got for you today.”

SORAYA NADIA McDONALD may be reached at (714) 966-4613 or at [email protected].