Corona del Mar Makes Bid for No. 1 in Volleyball Poll

Corona del Mar High School staked its claim as the top girls’ volleyball team in Orange County with a 15-11, 15-1, 15-4 victory over Laguna Beach in a nonleague game Saturday at Laguna Beach.

The Sea Kings, ranked second in the county, won their 14th consecutive match. The Artists are ranked third.

“When we’re playing well, I think we’re No. 1,” said Dale Flickinger, Corona del Mar’s interim coach. “But that’s by no means a lock.”

Corona del Mar (16-1) has six victories against top 10 teams. The Sea Kings’ only loss was to top-ranked La Habra in the semifinals of the Orange County championships in September.

“I think we’ve improved a lot since the La Habra loss,” Flickinger said. “I didn’t know the players very well back then, or what they could do in certain situations. We’re much, much better now.”

Corona del Mar took control early in each game against Laguna Beach.

The Sea Kings built leads of 12-4 in the first game, 9-0 in the second and 11-1 in the third. Laguna Beach committed 19 hitting errors and nine serving errors.

Lara Carlsen had eight kills and four blocks, and Tracy Schriber had nine kills to lead Corona del Mar. Ashley Wacholder had 14 kills for Laguna Beach (14-4).