CdM wanting to put its good foot forward

Perhaps hobbling around has been good for Steve Conti.

On the surface, it’s been frustrating, rotten really, for the Corona del Mar High boys’ volleyball coach to be reduced to hobbling around in an oversized boot because of a post-operative foot infection.

But in another sense, he fits right in with his team. Outside hitter Adam Smith, who will be attending UCLA, tore a ligament in his left hand and missed the Sea Kings first 29 matches of the season.

Blaine Nielsen, bound for UC Santa Barbara, was out for two weeks when he injured his right foot, and junior Jeff Carlson was unavailable for three days when he hurt his right shoulder.

“It’s some adversity that our team has to have gone through,” Conti said. “It makes us a stronger team by the end of the season, and if we weren’t able to overcome that, then we wouldn’t be in the situation we’re in at this point.”

With the exception of Smith, who still helps in practices, everyone else is healthy for tonight’s CIF Southern Section Division II semifinal match against second-seed Dos Pueblos in Goleta at 7.

Smith, who made an appearance in top-seeded CdM’s last regular season game against Newport Harbor, will not be 100% cleared to play volleyball until July, Conti said.

For the first time in two weeks, Conti was able to don a regular shoe Tuesday. Monday, he had the stitches taken out of his foot.

“I don’t have time, so I’m not so concerned with me right now,” said Conti, who developed an infection after having foot surgery. “When the season’s over, then I’ll be more concerned with how I’m going to attack this.”

This week he’s been more concerned with attacking Dos Pueblos, a team that Conti said is just as tough offensively as the Sea Kings.

“Both teams will bring a lot of offense to the table. It’s about who’s going to be able to stop that,” Conti said. “That’s key for us. Try to do some things defensively to slow their offense down.”

Dos Pueblos is the Channel League’s No. 2 seed. Conti said the Channel league is the toughest league in Division II. He said a highly competitive preseason and big-time tournaments are key to CdM’s playoff preparation.

“We want to see good competition throughout the year,” Conti said. “When we get to the playoffs, it’s not like we haven’t seen a good team.”

Unlike last week’s trip to Oxnard for the quarterfinals, the team will be able to relax a bit before the match. Conti booked a couple of rooms in the same hotel where the team stayed for the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions, “so at least we’re in somewhat familiar surroundings,” he said. The Oxnard trip took twice as long as expected, and threw off the team’s plans for the day. This time, they’re giving themselves plenty of leeway to be ready for a fight.

“Both teams are pretty well-rounded,” Conti said. “There’s not really any weak spots on the court. There’s not really anyone to pick on.”

The Sea Kings are trying to reach their third straight CIF final match. The CIF Division II final is on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Cerritos College.

SORAYA NADIA McDONALD may be reached at (714) 966-4613 or soraya.mcdonald@latimes.com.