PREP ROUNDUP : Corona del Mar Impresses Ex-Coach

Dale Flickinger knows a thing or two about coaching Corona del Mar girls’ volleyball teams. He also knows a thing or two about coaching a State championship team.

So what did Flickinger think of the Corona del Mar team that swept his El Modena squad Wednesday night?

“Corona was flawless,” he said. “If they keep playing like that, you might as well engrave their names on the State championship trophy right now. They won’t lose.”

Corona del Mar, top-ranked in Orange County, played nearly error-free in defeating ninth-ranked El Modena, 15-3, 15-4, 15-5, in a nonleague match at El Modena.

The match was a homecoming of sorts for Flickinger, the first-year El Modena coach who guided Corona del Mar to the 1990 Southern Section 5-A and State Division I titles. He had coached several Corona del Mar players this summer on the Orange County Volleyball Club’s 16-and-under team.

It also was the debut of Corona del Mar Coach Lance Stewart, who had previously been at Laguna Beach.

Stewart was eager to get the season going.

“I’m glad it’s done,” he said of the opener. “Now we don’t have to worry about playing the ex-coach with a new coach. This team established itself tonight. Well, sort of.”

The Sea Kings (1-0) needed only a little more than an hour to defeat the Vanguards (1-1). Led by a balanced attack, Corona del Mar capitalized on 20 violations and errors by an El Modena team that, at times, showed signs of promise.

Outside hitter Lori Newcomer, one of only two Sea King seniors, led the way with 11 kills.

Middle blocker Allison Englebrecht, the other senior, added seven kills and three blocks, and junior outside hitter Jennifer Stroffe had six kills and three blocks. Junior setter Kristin Campbell contributed 31 assists.

“We had at least 25 practices before this match,” Stewart said. “I think the kids were getting tired of me and I was getting tired of them. We had to take it out on someone else.”

El Modena was the unfortunate victim.

The Vanguards led, 2-0, in the first game, but a flurry of five El Modena hitting errors, two blocks by Stroffe and a block and kill by Englebrecht keyed a 15-1 Corona del Mar streak.

The second game went about the same. Corona del Mar led, 5-2, but Newcomer had three kills, and an ace by Kim Coleman helped the Sea Kings score six consecutive points.

El Modena showed some life in the third game, building a 4-1 lead before Corona del Mar stormed back with a 14-1 run.

El Modena had trouble passing the ball and struggled to get it to its best player, junior Lynnette Anderson, who finished with only three kills.

But Flickinger saw some bright spots. Jamie Shine, the Vanguards’ junior setter, handled several tough passes and distributed the ball well, finishing with 17 assists. Senior Sarena Syphers led the Vanguards with five kills.

“That’s a real good team,” Stewart said. “Dale will do a great job with them. I see them making the semifinals of their division, if not the finals.”

In other nonleague girls’ volleyball:

Villa Park 3, Tustin 1--Jenny Boroughs had six kills and eight blocks for Villa Park (2-0), which won, 13-15, 15-4, 16-14, 15-11.

Santa Ana 3, Orange 0--Cynthia Trotter had 20 kills and five aces to lead Santa Ana (1-0) past Orange, 16-14, 15-8, 16-14.

St. Margaret’s 3, La Canada Flintridge Prep 1--Outside hitter Susie Teitsworth had 26 kills and Shannon Carroll added 14 kills for St. Margaret’s (1-1). Freshman setter Lisa Bevil led the team with a school-record 45 assists. She broke Hilary Albers record of 38 assists set last season.

In girls’ nonleague tennis:

Mater Dei 16, Katella 2--Mater Dei’s Erika Asmuss swept at No. 1 singles, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0, to lead Mater Dei (3-1) past Katella (0-3). The team of Trisha Abe and Cheri Ota swept at No. 1 doubles, 6-1, 6-1, 6-1.

El Dorado 10, Rosary 8--Tempa Rainey and Sarah Tobias swept at No. 2 doubles, 6-4, 6-0, 6-0, for El Dorado (1-1).

Estancia 17, Savanna 1--Julie Fielder swept at No. 1 singles, 7-5, 6-1, 6-0, for Estancia (3-1) as the Eagles won all but one match. Savanna is 1-1.

Dana Hills 13, Irvine 5--Senior Anna Zaricki swept at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-0, 6-0, and junior Elizabeth Stevens swept at No. 2, 6-0, 6-3, 6-0, for the undefeated Dolphins (3-0). Irvine is 2-1.

Western 10, Troy 8--Sokhan Prum defeated Marit Bergman, 7-6 (7-3 in the tiebreaker), in the third round, leading Western (4-0) to victory over Troy (0-2). It was the only victory Prum posted against Troy. Freshman Debbie Jethva, playing at No. 1 singles, won two of three sets for Western.

Woodbridge 11, San Clemente 7--Woodbridge’s top two doubles teams swept their sets. Anne Marie Risquez and Liz Adcock won, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1, and Almaas Shaihk and Lucy Tseng won, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1, for the visiting Warriors (1-2).

In nonleague water polo:

Alhambra 14, Brea-Olinda 7--Brennan Shum scored six goals for Alhambra (4-2). Chris Killpatrick had two goals for Brea-Olinda (2-4). Todd Carley had six saves for the Wildcats.

Fountain Valley 13, Los Amigos 6--Rob Causee had five goals and Ofer Horn had four for host Fountain Valley (2-0).

Saddleback 11, Orange 4--Lok Truong had three goals to lead Saddleback (4-2) past Orange (0-1). Mario Valenzuela, Hai Le, and Robert Gross each had two goals for the Roadrunners.