CdM comes out swinging

CORONA DEL MAR ? The Corona del Mar High boys’ volleyball team may not have a ton of star power after losing some of its top players from last year’s CIF Southern Section Division II championship team, but it does have a surplus of skilled players.

The Sea Kings were on their game on Friday night against Laguna Beach. The Sea Kings were registering kills from the back row, the middle and up front from every angle, frustrating the Breakers in a 25-14, 25-13, 25-18 Pacific Coast League victory.

“That’s the key,” Corona del Mar Coach Steve Conti said. “We may not have the best player in the county, but we may have the best team because we have six guys who can do a lot of things, plus a bunch of guys off the bench that can play.

“I’m just trying to find a way to get everybody in. It’s truly a team effort this year.”

Middle blocker Gus Ellis led the way for the Sea Kings, tallying 13 kills on 17 attempts. The 6-foot-6 sophomore hit the ball high and often almost straight down, making his hits nearly impossible to dig.

Senior middle blocker Scott Slaughter, who missed a few matches with an abdominal strain, returned to action in a part-time role, registering eight kills on nine attempts.

“He was getting a feel for it again,” Conti said.

In Slaughter’s absence, senior Brian Baldwin was given more playing time and proved to be worthy of the task, giving the Sea Kings a third effective middle blocker along with Slaughter and Ellis.

“Baldwin came in and did a great job,” Conti said. “He seized his opportunity. Sometimes there’s a silver lining when one of your best guys gets hurt. Brian gives us another weapon. Now we have three good middle blockers, which also opens up the outside for us.”

Setter Phil Bannon dished out 37 assists and had four service aces. Junior Adam Smith added 16 digs and six kills for Corona del Mar (15-4, 3-0 in league), ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division II.

The Sea Kings were never threatened against Laguna Beach (9-9, 3-1), ranked eighth in Division II. The Breakers came closest in the third game when they tried to avoid the sweep.

The Breakers jumped out to an 8-5 lead before a Corona del Mar sideout, an ace by David Yi and a towering kill by Ellis tied the score. The Sea Kings registered the next point and never trailed again.

Laguna Beach pulled as close as 21-18 on a kill by Blair Bigelow, but a kill by Ellis restored order, then Bannon closed out the match with a pair of jump-serve aces.

Laguna Beach earned the first point in each game, but it never took long for Corona del Mar to regain control. The first game was tied, 2-2, before Corona del Mar took the lead for good. Two kills by Smith and one by Ellis swung the momentum Corona del Mar’s way. Bannon closed the game with a service ace.

“I think we served really well,” Conti said. “Bannon’s jump serve was really working.”

In the second game, Laguna Beach led, 3-2, before a kill by Ellis and a block from Smith gave Corona del Mar a lead it would never surrender. Sophomore Jeff Carlson served for five straight points, including three by way of service ace. Junior Brad McCoy closed the game with a kill.

“We controlled the ball good,” Conti said. “We ran the middle well.”

Corona del Mar continues Pacific Coast League action when it plays at Tesoro on Wednesday.dpt-cdmvolley25.IMGGraphicInfoF71PALM020060325F71PALM0No Captiondpt.25-vb-cdm-lb-3-CPhotoInfoKJ1PALGF20060325iwo2q6knMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Corona del Mar’s Blaine Nielsen (20) takes a swing at the ball as Laguna Beach’s Mike Kahl (8) puts up a block during Friday night’s match. The Sea Kings swept the Breakers in a Pacific Coast League match, 25-14, 25-13, 25-18. dpt.25-vb-cdm-lb-2-CPhotoInfoKJ1PAL8420060325iwo2poknMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Corona del Mar’s Phil Bannon (10) puts up a block against Laguna Beach’s Ryan Arthur.