High School Notebook: Corona del Mar girls’ volleyball team not satisfied with fast start
Coach Steve Astor has the Corona del Mar High girls’ volleyball team rolling at 13-1.
“I am happy with where we currently sit and how we have played thus far, but certainly not fully satisfied yet,” Astor said. “We still have a ways to go and need to get better in the details. I think our roster is a nice mix of young and old, and our team chemistry has been great.”
The Sea Kings’ lone setback came on Sept. 12 during the semifinals of the Dave Mohs Championships to Corona Santiago, which has reached the CIF Southern Section finals in Division 1A and Division 2AA in the past two years.
Astor’s team won’t see that caliber of competition in its next six Pacific Coast League matches, until CdM travels to the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions at the end of the month. The two-day tournament, which begins on Oct. 30, always features some of the elite programs in the state. Last year, CdM placed seventh in the tournament.
The Sea Kings, ranked No. 4 in Division 1AA, are 3-0 league. They have won all but one set in league. Seniors Jessie Harris, Payton Carter and Natalia Bruening have led the way for CdM, which is aiming to finish as the league champion for the 10th straight year.
The nonleague portion of CdM’s schedule has included impressive wins against Los Angeles Marymount, No. 6 in Division 1AA, Laguna Beach, No. 5 in Division 2AA, and Villa Park, No. 10 in Division 1A.
“This is possibly the most focused group I’ve ever coached, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how much we can improve before November,” Astor said. “It’s a great group of young ladies and they’ve done a great job of buying into our family culture.”
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The Sage Hill girls’ volleyball team has a big week ahead: three contests in five days.
Sage Hill is at home in a nonleague match against Los Angeles Windward at 5 p.m. Monday, then it travels for a nonleague match at Mater Dei at 6 p.m. Wednesday before closing out the week at home in a key Academy League match against rival St. Margaret’s at 5 p.m. Friday.
Two of the programs, Mater Dei and St. Margaret’s, are in the top 10 in their respective divisions. The Monarchs are No. 7 in Division 1AA and the Tartans are No. 1 in Division 3AA. Windward appeared in the section finals the past three seasons, losing in Division 2A last year and in Division 3AA the previous two times.
“The team is right on pace to make another big run for a league title and a CIF run,” said Coach Dan Thomassen, who has Sage Hill (8-8, 4-1 in league) ranked No. 3 in Division 3AA. “Sophomore Jade Blevins runs a great offense as setter, and junior Jamie Dailey has become a dominant attacker.
“This year’s defensive intensity behind seniors Lina Aluzri and Giordana Ricci, and junior Sahar Rohani, has set a new tone in our practices and matches.”
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Costa Mesa’s two-match winning streak in girls’ volleyball against rival Estancia ended Tuesday, when the Eagles swept their archrivals, 25-21, 25-14, 25-17.
Costa Mesa’s wins over the Eagles came last season, sweeping the Battle for the Bell series for the first time since 2004. Before last year, Estancia had won 20 in a row against the Mustangs.
The programs meet again in Orange Coast League play on Oct. 22 at Costa Mesa.
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The Newport Harbor girls’ volleyball team is coming off a tough five-set loss at home to Los Alamitos, dropping the Sailors to 1-2 in Sunset League action.
Coach Dan Glenn, in his 30th season leading the Sailors, looks for his team to rebound this upcoming week. The Sailors are at Marina at 5:45 p.m. Monday, and play host to Edison, ranked No. 10 in Division 1AA, at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday.
