Boys’ volleyball: Sea Kings rule Newport Beach... at least for now

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Call it the ultimate grudge match. Whenever Corona del Mar plays Newport Harbor, no matter what the sport, a playoff intensity exists.

They aren’t in the same league. They aren’t even in the same CIF division. They are, however, powerhouse programs sharing the same city (the campuses are 3 1/2 miles away from each other in Newport Beach) and that proximity makes their rivalry the high school equivalent of USC vs. UCLA.

‘It goes in cycles. They had their way with us for about four years, but more recently we’ve turned the tables,’ Corona del Mar Coach Steve Conti said. ‘We always play them the Friday after our last league match. The kids grew up playing with or against each other, so bragging rights are at stake.’

Saturday’s semifinal boys’ volleyball match in the Orange County tournament was a perfect example. Corona del Mar outlasted its archrival, 17-25, 26-24, 15-13 to advance to the championship Monday at Edison High.

Corona del Mar, the reigning Southern Section Division II champion, is in the Sea View League while Newport Harbor is in Division I and competes in the Sunset League. Ask anyone from either school who they want to beat most, however, and the answer is always ‘Corona’ or ‘Harbor.’

Perhaps that’s why Conti sounded somewhat reserved after the Sea Kings’ gritty effort Saturday against the Sailors. He knows it merely fueled the fire for the rematch, which will take place May 2 at UC Irvine’s Bren Events Center on the eve of the NCAA men’s finals.

‘This just made them mad,’ Conti said. ‘Now they really want to get us.’

-- Steve Galluzzo

-- Image from www.rivalart.com