PREP VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP : Sea Kings Depart on a High Note

The Corona del Mar girls’ volleyball team leaves today for a national tournament in Chicago with its undefeated record and No. 1 state ranking intact.

But just barely.

Before seeing how they stack up against the nation’s top teams, the Sea Kings had to hold off upset-minded Newport Harbor, 15-2, 16-18, 14-16, 15-9, 15-5, in a Sea View League match Wednesday night at Corona del Mar.

The victory was a tuneup for this weekend’s Divers Sports Challenge tournament in Chicago, which features 21 of the nation’s top teams, including Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach.

And if not for the strong play of junior Jennifer Stroffe, the Sea Kings might have left town with a loss.

Stroffe had nine of her 16 kills in the final two games to lead four Corona del Mar hitters in double figures.

Senior Lori Newcomer also had 16 kills, junior Kim Coleman 13 and senior Allison Englebrecht 11 for the Sea Kings (6-0, 4-0).

Sophomore Misty May had 35 kills for Newport Harbor, ranked fifth in Orange County and 14th in the state. Sophomore Melissa Schutz and senior Dani Foley added 13 each for the Sailors (4-2, 3-1).

Corona del Mar trailed, 5-1, in the fourth game, but three kills by Stroffe and five Newport Harbor serving errors keyed a 14-4 Sea King run.

Newport Harbor served Corona del Mar tough in the first three games, but the Sailors began to tire in the fourth and fifth games. They committed six service errors in the fifth game, and Stroffe added six kills as Corona del Mar held on for the victory.

“It was a good match and we had our chances,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said. “Our serving either wins games for us, or takes us out of it. We served tough in the games we won, and we didn’t serve well in the games we lost.”

Newport Harbor had four aces, including three in the third game, when the Sailors rallied from an 8-1 deficit to win, 16-14.

The Sailors trailed, 14-13, but fought off two game points, then tied the score on an ace by May. May added a kill and another ace for the game’s final two points.

“Newport served us as tough as any team has,” Corona del Mar Coach Lance Stewart said.

Stewart scolded his team after the third game, upset that the Sea Kings had blown a 14-9 lead in the second game and the 8-1 deficit in the third.

“I think we relaxed a little after winning the first game, 15-2,” he said.

Stewart said he was pleased with his team’s play in the final two games. The Sea Kings had swept their four previous opponents, and Stewart wasn’t sure how his team would hold up in the fourth and fifth games.

“I was pleased with our conditioning,” he said. “We were a little unsure what we would do when someone had some pressure on us. It was nice to see the kids respond in that situation.”

In nonleague matches:

Costa Mesa 3, Loara 1--Amy Thoren had six kills for Loara (1-6) but Costa Mesa (3-3) won, 15-11, 12-15, 15-7, 15-5.

Orange 3, Katella 1--Camie Velin had 17 kills and Mary Pezzetti had 13 for host Orange, which won, 15-12, 15-8, 12-15, 15-8.

Valencia 3, Canyon 0--Brandy Smerko had 18 kills and seven blocks for host Valencia (3-2) in a 15-3, 15-8, 15-8 victory.