Prep column: CdM sows CIF seed

Barry Faulkner

Though Corona del Mar High legitimately earned its berth into the

CIF Southern Section Division IV boys volleyball playoffs, the

third-place team from the Pacific Coast League barged through the back

door Friday to assume the postseason path of the No. 3 seed.

CdM, which by virtue of appearances in its division’s section title

match each of the previous five seasons has reclaimed its status as a

perennial power in the sport, was pitted against No. 3-seeded Ocean View

in the first round of the playoffs.

But Ocean View, which shared the Golden West League title for the

second straight year and advanced to the Division IV quarterfinals last

spring, held the seed in name only.

In the practice some refer to as back-door seeding, and a reality not

lost on Ocean View Coach Jimmy Harris, the CIF playoff pairings committee

recognized CdM’s prowess, as well as the strength of the PCL, by allowing

Coach Steve Conti’s squad to claim the No. 3 seed if it could defeat the

Seahawks on the road.

And while that victory was anything but routine -- a 15-6, 13-15,

7-15, 16-14, 15-8 struggle that lasted more than two hours -- the Sea

Kings should now benefit from the back-door seeding, beginning with a

home match tonight against South Pasadena.

The CdM victory over the Seahawks was one of only three five-game

first-round matches in Divisions I-IV (there were three five-gamers in

Division V).

Should the Sea Kings get past South Pasadena tonight, they would

likely face Mission League runner-up Harvard-Westlake for the right,

barring upset, to meet No. 2 seeded Northwood in the May 22 semifinals.

The Timberwolves were 10-0 in PCL matches to claim their first outright

league crown, after sharing the title with CdM in 2001.

The promising volleyball fortunes at Estancia High, of which more than

one local observer have noted, have taken a potentially severe hit with

the resignation of boys and girls coach Tracey Heims.

Heims, a former standout girls player at the school who had brought

stability and direction to both programs, said the demands of a

first-year teaching assignment at La Quinta High, beginning next fall,

will prevent her from coaching at Estancia.

Heims told Estancia Girls Athletic Director Nancy Ferda she hopes to

be settled in enough to resume coaching the Eagles’ boys team next

spring. But the uncertainty of her availability will prompt the school to

hire one coach for both programs, should that option exist.

Corona del Mar High senior Andrea Gruber, a standout basketball player

who also starts for the softball team, was one of 10 state-wide girls

finalists for the spring State CIF Spirit of Sport Award, presented

recently.

The award recognizes student-athletes who have demonstrated the

principles of Pursuing Victory With Honor, are leaders within their

school and communities, and are active in community and school service.

Gruber is a student leader/counselor for Peer Assistant Leadership and

represented CdM at the National Women in Sports Convention. Her community

service includes working as a hospital volunteer at a cancer center and

serving as a counselor at a science camp for children.

She has been a team captain in both sports at CdM.

The girls award went to Patti Viri of Westmoor High in Daly City.

The Sage Hill boys basketball coaching opening has attracted a

prime-time candidate in former Irvine High head man Steve Keith. If the

Lightning don’t hire the highly respected Keith to take over for departed

Gordon McNeill, they’d be making a big mistake.

McNeill, who nearly guided the Newport Coast private school to the

playoffs in its first varsity season, said he plans to return to Orange

County after his wife serves her residency at a San Fernando Valley

hospital next year. McNeill said he would likely seek a coaching and

teaching/administration position upon his return.

Though Monday was the day Southern Section football programs could

begin spring practice, Sage Hill is the lone local school to have already

kicked off preparation for the 2002 season.

Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa and Estancia will begin Monday, while

Newport Harbor is set to open spring drills May 28.