PREP VOLLEYBALL / DIVISION I REGIONALS : Corona del Mar Wastes No Time

Los Angeles University High volleyball Coach Neal Newman chose his words carefully Tuesday. He tried to accentuate the positive after University fell to Corona del Mar, the nation’s top-ranked girls’ volleyball team, in three games.

“The idea coming here was that we had everything to gain and nothing to lose,” Newman said. “The kids were really excited about playing Corona del Mar.”

But less than a hour later, host Corona del Mar had rolled to its 21st consecutive victory with a 15-2, 15-3, 15-7 sweep in the first round of the State Division I playoffs in Newport Beach.

Corona del Mar (21-0) will play host to Torrance (22-1) in the second round Saturday night.

Corona del Mar had 11 aces, including five by captain Kristen Campbell, and barely broke a sweat against a team that was the runner-up to Pacific Palisades Palisades in the City Section Division 4-A championship.

University had 27 unforced errors in the opening two games, and all Newman could do was marvel at Corona del Mar’s precision.

“They have so much ball control, it’s unbelievable,” he said. “(It) was good for my team to play against a great team like them. We don’t have a club player on the team, and now my girls know how much work it takes to be successful on this level.”