CdM returns to CIF semifinals for first time since 2014

Reporting from Studio City —  Since its precarious beginning to the CIF Southern Section playoffs, Corona del Mar High’s girls’ volleyball team has gone from feelings of relief to experiencing unbridled joy.

The Sea Kings advanced to their first semifinal since 2014 on Saturday, demonstrating the cohesion that their motto of “one heartbeat” suggests.

Behind a strong defensive effort and ample firepower, CdM defeated host Studio City Harvard-Westlake 20-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-16 in a Division 1 quarterfinal match.

CdM had 68 digs as a team, allowing the Sea Kings (22-6) to stymie a Harvard-Westlake attack that was clicking on all cylinders in the early going.

“We’re all super psyched,” senior outside hitter Christina Davenport said. “My sophomore year, we came up short in the quarterfinals, so this is really big for us.

“We’re playing one touch, one heartbeat as a team. I think we’re just really connecting.”

CdM will host second-seeded Mater Dei (33-5) in the semifinals next Tuesday.

Ashley Humphreys had 63 assists, feeding the hot hand throughout the night. Kendall Kipp had 25 kills, Davenport had 18 kills, and Maya Satchell had 10 kills.

Raleigh Garner and Tia Grippo each had 13 digs to lead CdM’s defensive effort.

“We just kind of trust that if we can stay close, sometimes, we can make a run,” Sea Kings coach Steve Astor said. “With the defense we played tonight, we can make a run no matter what the score is.”

Astor was also impressed with the play of Davenport, who helped CdM close the match with six kills in the fourth set. Her 18 kills came on 27 swings with only three errors, a .556 hitting percentage.

CdM avoided disaster in Game 2. The Sea Kings led the set 24-18, but the Wolverines (20-8) staged a comeback. Karly Recker’s kill stopped a 5-0 run by Harvard-Westlake, pulling CdM even in the match at a set apiece.

Kipp, who had the game-ending kill in the third set, said that escaping the first round with a five-set win against Tesoro deepened the Sea Kings’ trust in each other.

“I think that game against Tesoro taught us to trust each other a lot more,” Kipp said. “It taught us in tough situations to stay calm. If we stay close, any second, we could get a run and come back.”

Jaimie Rao had a team-high 13 kills for the Wolverines. Lindsey Kelly had 30 assists, and Isabel Wiatt had 16 digs.

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