Girls volleyball: CdM sweeps for first round win

Steve Virgen

Corona del Mar - So what if the Corona del Mar girls volleyball

team hadn’t heard about San Dimas. So what if there was no scouting

report about the Saints. All the Sea Kings had to do was realize the

meaning of the match. This was the CIF Southern Section Division III-AA

playoffs. And CdM relied on what got it there: Intensity, work ethic and

classic teamwork, that led to a three-game sweep over visiting San Dimas,

15-2, 15-3, 15-7 Thursday at CdM.

The Sea Kings move on to the second round where they will face

Nordhoff at a site to be determined today.

It didn’t take long for the Sea Kings (17-8) to make an impression.

After a 2-2 tie, CdM took the first game by outscoring the 12-9 Saints,

13-0, and allowing them to serve just three times during the run.

“The biggest thing you have to do is concentrate on your team,” said

CdM Coach Steve Conti of his preparation for the playoffs. Conti simply

relied on his players and their desire to improve. “We’re getting

better,” he said. “Specifically, our defense is getting better.”

CdM’s defense never allowed San Dimas to grab any sort of momentum.

The Sea Kings’ gameplan was not catered to the Saints. CdM’s first-round

performance was more a matter of the Sea Kings not beating themselves.

When they needed points they went to Jacqueline Becker, who served up 23

assists, and seniors Sara Deming and Lindsey Anstandig -- the duo had 12

kills and three aces each. Becker also finished with six digs, three

kills and one ace.

“I have to be that fire,” Deming said of her role on the team. “I have

to fire everyone up. I want to make people realize that we can beat

anyone.”

The Sea Kings never stopped believing they could win against San

Dimas. Deming served two aces in the second game for an 8-1 lead. Becker,

Anstandig and Alexandra Selich also served aces as CdM blew out the

Saints.

Said Anastandig, “Because of CIF, everyone is fired up and ready to

get into the finals.”

CdM maintained its intensity into the third game which allowed Conti

to play junior varsity players brought up for the postseason. Lauren Loe,

a former JV player, served for CdM’s four final points. She had two aces,

the last one closing out the match.

Conti said he doesn’t know anything of Nordhoff, either. The Sea Kings

need not worry too much. They should build on their belief that their

play is improving.

“We all know each other now,” Deming said. “We’re all coming together.

It’s the CIF playoffs and we just play our hardest.”