Corona del Mar Upsets Laguna Beach in Volleyball

CORONA DEL MAR — Corona del Mar stunned Laguna Beach, the top-ranked girls’ volleyball team in Orange County, 15-11, 15-9, 15-7, in a nonleague match that lasted only 75 minutes Monday at Corona del Mar High School.

The fifth-ranked Sea Kings (8-7) trailed only once, 1-0 in the first game, and used a strong service attack with consistently effective placement throughout the match against the Artists (14-2). Corona del Mar had seven aces, including three by Megan Upham.

“Our serving was very important,” Corona del Mar Coach Mark Rivadeneyra said. “We served the areas I wanted about 85% of the time and kept the ball away from Rachel (Wacholder, Laguna Beach’s top outside hitter).”

Wacholder finished with 10 kills. Five, however, came in the first game, and three before either team had scored more than two points. Corona del Mar’s serving allowed the Sea Kings time to set up their blocks against Wacholder and Tori Scott.

Charmayne Conley led Corona del Mar with 10 kills, and middle blocker Allison Englebrecht added nine kills with only one hitting error.

Rivadeneyra was pleased with the passing game, which allowed Caren McKinely and Kim Coleman to set the Sea King hitters on the net.

“Everyone on the top level of (Southern Section’s Division) 5-A is capable of beating anyone else,” Rivadeneyra said. “We played a strong match overall, and Laguna Beach seemed a little off. That’s all it takes in these matches.”