Boys volleyball: CdM sweeps Capo Valley

Joseph Boo

CORONA DEL MAR - Number 11 was the theme for Corona del Mar High’s

boys volleyball team Wednesday in its nonleague match against visiting

Capistrano Valley. With 11 points in the first and second sets, CdM lost

its lead, went to the brink of losing, then came back to win both en

route to a 16-14, 15-13, 15-9 sweep.

The Sea Kings’ attack was keyed by their No. 11, senior Greg Stampley,

who had a team-high 17 kills, and setter Evan Burden, who had 39 assists.

In the first set, CdM (2-0) had a 6-3 lead before Capo Valley, led by its

UCLA-bound middle blocker Paul Johnson, took a 9-7 lead. CdM retook the

lead at 11-10, before the Cougars almost won the set with a five-point

run, making the score, 14-11.

But whatever Capo Valley (1-1) took, it gave away. One lift call and two

wide spikes gave CdM three points, and Stampley made two kills to give

CdM the opening set, 16-14.

The second set was similar to the first. CdM took a 9-3 lead with the

combination of Stampley, Forest Mack, Chris Shepherdson and more Capo

Valley mistakes. Shepherdson had 12 kills for the Sea Kings, and Mack had

seven blocks.

The Cougars came back and took a 13-11 lead, but again, Capo mistakes and

two Stampley kills gave CdM the set, 15-13.

“We had a lead, gave it up, and played catch-up in the first two sets,”

CdM Coach Steve Conti said. “This is a good learning experience early in

the season on how to come back.”

No comeback was necessary in the third set as the Sea Kings won, 15-9.

The final point was strange to say the least. A diving Mack got a piece

of a wicked spike from Johnson. The ball ricocheted off Mack, hit

Shepherdson in the face and went over to Capo Valley’s side. The Cougars

hit the ball in the net to end the match.

With key members Kevin Hansen, Alec Hanson, Charlie Alshuler and Ryan

Inman still playing basketball in the state playoffs, the rest of the Sea

Kings picked up the slack and won their first two matches in three-set

sweeps.

“Guys like Shepherdson and Stampley have stepped up in leadership roles,”

Conti said, “and our younger players are getting a chance to prove

themselves.”