DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:

Late in the third game of a big-time girls’ volleyball match, it seemed as if the 2008 season for Corona del Mar High could be seen in Sydney Brombal.

The Sea Kings’ junior outside hitter committed two errors that gave Beckman the game and a 2-1 lead. But it was how Brombal responded that typified CdM.

She was instrumental in providing the Sea Kings with energy and key plays that helped them rally for the five-game win in a semifinal match of the CIF Southern Section Division II-AA playoffs Tuesday night in the Patriots’ gym.

In the fifth game, she served for six straight points, including a pair of aces, giving CdM control of the match with a 6-1 lead.

The two errors in the third game might’ve buried some players, but not Brombal. She wouldn’t let that define her.

“That’s a huge deal to lose that [third] game,” said Brombal, who had 16 kills and 20 digs against Beckman. “But after that game I wanted to shake it off and help my team win the fourth and fifth games.”

The Sea Kings experienced a similar shake-up earlier this season, when they lost to Beckman in five games during Pacific Coast League play. But CdM did not lose another PCL match and ended league play with a five-game win against Beckman for its third straight league championship.

Now the Sea Kings want a CIF title, which would be their first since 2004. They’ll get their chance when they face top-seeded Redlands East Valley today at 4:30 p.m. at Cypress College.

“After we won league we realized that we have a really great shot at winning the CIF title,” Brombal said. “We’ve used that as motivation in practices.”

Brombal and a few others on the CdM squad have used another championship won during the summer for more motivation. As part of the Orange County Volleyball Club, Brombal’s team won the Volleyball Festival in the girls’ 16-year-old division.

The club team’s championship run has helped Brombal during the season and the experience especially came in handy in the five-game battle against Beckman. The title match in July was played at the University of Nevada-Reno in front of a much larger crowd than the one at Beckman.

The setting at the Patriots’ gym didn’t seem to bother Brombal when she went to serve early in the fifth game.

“When I was serving for those points, I just told myself that I’m really going to go after these serves,” Brombal said. “I wanted to get my team as far out ahead as I could just by my serving.”

The loud noises from Beckman’s fans and a Patriots timeout would not break Brombal down. She wasn’t so much concerned for redemption from the third game. She just wanted the Sea Kings to win.

“I’m not one to get really nervous,” Brombal said. “I think the adrenaline starts to kick in. Being in a finals situation before, I think I’ve been around it. I’ve played for six years now. I think I feel pretty comfortable now.”

She was certainly comfortable last week. She had a match-high 12 kills and also delivered eight aces in the Sea Kings’ four-game win against Redlands in the second round. She then had seven kills, 18 digs and two service aces in a four-game quarterfinal victory over St. Joseph.

“The main thing with Sydney is experience, her composure and passion,” CdM Coach Darryl Gan said. “She is one of those who is really steady and we can rely on her to perform. She is kind of like a cornerstone of our team. She brings a real nice consistency that really helps the team.”

Tuesday night wasn’t the only time, Brombal responded to adversity. Brombal played on CdM’s junior varsity team as a freshman, while some of her friends in the same grade or a grade higher were on the varsity. Brombal was pleased to be on JV as a freshman, but in no way content. During the off-season before her sophomore year, she made it a point that she would be on the varsity team.

She never really became frustrated about being on JV. She never became rattled, just like in that five-game match against Beckman.

“She doesn’t let her emotions get to her,” Gan said. “She is a really steady player. She brings a lot of energy and a lot of composure in at the same time.”

CdM will hope for the same today in the CIF title match.

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at steve.virgen@latimes.com.