Girls volleyball: Sea Kings rule in the clutch
Steve Virgen
CORONA DEL MAR - Nothing like a five-game volleyball match to begin
the season for the Corona del Mar High girls volleyball team. The Sea
Kings practically welcomed the challenge as they thrived in the clutch
for a five-game nonleague victory, 16-14, 15-10, 13-15, 14-16, 15-9, over
visiting Huntington Beach Friday. Senior setter Jacqueline Becker,
perhaps setting the tone for the entire season, grabbed the momentum for
Corona in the first game, leading the Sea Kings to come back from a 14-9
deficit.
‘She’s like the Joe Montana of this team,’ first-year coach Bill
Christiansen said of his team’s captain who led with a match-high 40
assists. ‘She means everything to this team.’
On a team of talented stars, Becker seems like the player to bring out
the best in them. She did so in Game 1 with a thrilling set of plays to
grab the momentum for the Sea Kings (1-0).
After the Oilers (0-1) scored a service ace for 14-9 lead, Becker
started the comeback. She slammed one of her six kills for sideout and
then went to work with her point-scoring serves. She served for six
straight points, including an ace to pull within 14-10. To cut the
deficit to 14-11, she went low for two digs during a long rally and
Morgan Smith, who compiled 19 kills, planted a kill for the point.
Corona junior outside hitter Claire Allen scored the next three points
by way of block, kill (Becker assist) and kill (Smith assist). Allen, who
recorded a match-high 24 kills, later ended the game with a service ace.
‘I like this win because a lot of people were able to contribute,’
Christiansen said. ‘I wasn’t worried about winning or losing that match.
I just wanted the players to play with intensity and have fun.’
The Sea Kings appeared to have fun in the rally-scoring Game 5. Though
they started down, 3-0, they quickly fired back as Becker dished out
assists to Allen and Smith. As the teams were deadlocked at 6, the Sea
Kings took over when the Oilers were called for a double-hit violation.
Becker and Allen teamed for three assist-kill scores and they combined
for another point when Becker assisted Allen on a sweet tip that landed
untouched on the Oilers’ side of the net for a 12-7 lead.
Becker served an ace for a to reach game point and Huntington was
faulted for another double hit, giving CdM the victory.
‘We have so much talent on this team,’ Christiansen said. ‘When they
learn to trust each other, you’re going to see that team that’s
third-ranked in the (Orange) County poll. I think we have the talent to
play with the best. Maybe not right now, but you can see glimpses of
brilliance out there.’
CdM showed glimpses of brilliance in Game 2. It grabbed a 13-5 lead as
Corona pulled away from a 7-5 advantage with Mack serving. Mack, who
amassed 11 kills, served for three aces in the six-point run and senior
Katie Duggan scored another two points when she blocked two would-be
kills.
On game point, after Becker set up junior Alissa Zoelle for a kill for
sideout, Christiansen substituted sophomore Ashley Bill and she delivered
with an ace for the victory.
The two-game lead allowed Christiansen to use various lineups as he
continually substituted different players. In fact, CdM mainly used a
lineup that was created just the day before the match.
‘I was very happy with that result,’ Christiansen said. However, the
Oilers managed to earn two wins as they capitalized on CdM mistakes and
held off a Sea King comeback in Game 4.
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