More of same for Sea Kings

CHINO HILLS — Eight video cameras in the Ayala High cheering section raised and began recording as the CIF Southern Section Division II-AA girls’ volleyball semifinal match against Corona del Mar started.

What the Bulldogs’ fans left their gym with Tuesday was what Sea Kings’ Coach Bill Christiansen compiled all year in game footage in the familiar fashion of a CdM sweep, 25-23, 25-23, 25-18.

More of senior outside hitter Juliane Piggott dominating on offense, a team-high 20 kills, and defense, a team-high 18 digs and one solo block. More of senior Kelly Christian smoothly transitioning back and forth from setter, a team-high 17 assists, and hitter, 11 kills, to go with her defense, 12 digs.

More of senior middle blocker Kasey Kipp keeping the middle safe and more of the backline, led by Shannon Johnson’s 15 digs, providing a sturdy defense. And more of setter Jamie Lawson coming off the bench to provide instant setting, 14 assists.

“The main thing is we wanted it as a team,” Christiansen said.

The Sea Kings advance to the Division II-AA title match, where they will meet Laguna Beach. The match will either be on Friday or Saturday at Cypress College and that will be decided today.

CdM will hope to use some of the moxie it showed Tuesday. Those in attendance with video cameras rolling did get to leave with a rare moment, the top-seeded Sea Kings being forced to play from behind.

In the second game, Corona del Mar watched as its 17-13 lead quickly turned into a 22-17 deficit.

“People were a little jittery,” Christian said. “You always want to be ahead.”

Christian doesn’t mind having to hit and set, but this time it was her turn in the rotation step outside and time to provide offense. Two kills from Christian as well as diving digs from Lawson, Johnson and Madie Smith led the Sea Kings on a 6-1 run to tie the game, 23-23.

“To come back, it showed we had fight in us,” Christian said.

Smith took a blistering spike off the side of the face, but kept the ball alive for Christian to finish off and Johnson nailed one of her three aces to give the Sea Kings the game.

“It was really hard,” said Smith as she held an ice pack to the side of her face. “The backline had to follow tips and use a lot of communication. We were all over the place digging the ball. Our seniors, they didn’t make the playoffs last year, so this team really wanted to go to the finals.”

Even though the Sea Kings have not been put in the position of being forced to rally often this year, Christiansen still had no doubt his team would come through.

“I know my team will never give up,” he said. “These girls, they’ve been fighting hard for two years. It was a hostile loud crowd, but the girls kept their composure and had good enthusiasm.”

Leading the enthusiastic charge was Kipp, who had a team-high three solo blocks.

“I love playing in front of loud crowds,” Kipp said. “I thought we played fired up. We never wanted to let up. We knew we could all come together. We are good at coming together as a team. In the second game that was the first time we all really wanted to come back.”

Christiansen added that while the defense sparkled in the second-game comeback, it was solid throughout.

“Our defense was big all three games,” Christiansen said. “It kept getting stronger all three games.”

Corona del Mar’s final matchup will provide some familiarity.

The Sea Kings swept the No. 2-seeded Breakers in the middle of the season, although they were without middle blocker Zoe Garrett, who was with the U.S. National team. Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar were rivals in the Pacific Coast League before the Breakers moved to the Orange Coast League this season. And Laguna Beach Coach Lance Stewart was formerly the coach of Corona del Mar just like Christiansen was formerly the coach at Laguna Beach.

“I’d love it,” Christiansen said before knowing the Breakers had won, 24-26, 20-25, 25-21, 25-21, 15-8, over St. Lucy’s of Glendora.