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.