Corona del Mar Has a Shot at a National Title Tonight : Division I: Sea Kings (23-0) meet Laguna Beach (23-2) with more than just the state championship on the line.

Back in 1981, Laguna Beach High’s volleyball team had a pretty good setter named Lance Stewart, who helped the Artists to an undefeated record and the Southern Section title.

Eleven years later, Stewart is coaching a Corona del Mar High girls’ team that has a chance to exceed even what he and the Artists accomplished.

The Sea Kings, 23-0 and top-ranked in USA Today’s national poll, meet Laguna Beach (23-2) in the State Division I championship match at 6 tonight at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Gym.

The Sea Kings, 90-6 in all games played this season, are trying to win their second State title in three seasons, go undefeated and win the national title for the first time in school history.

Corona del Mar’s 1990 State championship team came close, but lost a five-game match to La Habra in the Orange County Championship semifinals and finished second nationally.

“There are a lot of parallels between that Laguna team I played on and this Corona team,” said Stewart, a former Laguna girls’ coach who is in his first season at Corona del Mar.

“There were four of us on the high school team who had played together since junior high, won a couple of national championships in club. It’s the same way here at Corona.”

Stewart has close ties to both schools.

He played on the first of three section championship teams along with future beach stars Rudy Dvorak, Leif Hanson and Adam Johnson. Later teams featured Olympian Scott Fortune.

The Artists breezed through the regular season, and defeated San Clemente in five games in the section championship game.

Now, Stewart would like nothing better than for Corona del Mar to beat his alma mater.

The Sea Kings swept the Artists in the section championship match two weeks ago by shutting down Rachel Wacholder, who Stewart coached during her sophomore year.

“There’s always been sort of a Corona mystique with Laguna Beach,” Stewart said. “Laguna couldn’t beat Corona back when I was coaching there (Laguna).”

Stewart left Laguna Beach two years ago for Tennessee, but returned last year to coach at Rancho Santiago College. Last spring, he replaced Mark Rivadeneyra as Corona del Mar’s coach.

He took over a team that was 13-8 last season, and began this year ranked ninth in the Southern Section preseason poll.

But after victories at the Orange County Championships in September and the Chicago tournament in October, the Sea Kings vaulted to the top spot in the section, State and national polls.

The Sea Kings have won with experience and solid, fundamental play. Most of the girls have played together in the Orange County Volleyball club since junior high, and have been competitive at the national age-group level for years.

“These girls have played in so many big matches in front of so many big crowds since they were 13,” Stewart said. “I think it gives us a big advantage.

“I think this school will always have sound teams, whether Lance Stewart is coaching here or not. The club program and the parental support are very strong. And the kids enjoy playing. I don’t think there will ever be a weak team here.”

This year’s team has few weaknesses, Stewart said. Most of the players have strong all-around skills in passing, setting, hitting, serving and blocking.

They’re so strong, that Stewart thinks they could compete with some colleges.

“I’m not saying we would beat them,” he said, “but we could compete.

“Take a look at Corona and UCLA, the No. 1 teams in high school and college. The only difference between the teams is physical strength and the height they play above the net.

“But when it comes down to fundamentals--digging, passing, setting--we’re as sound as anyone.”

The Sea Kings feature two setters--5-foot-11 junior Kristen Campbell and 6-0 junior Kim Coleman--giving them a dimension few high school teams have. Both are outstanding blockers because of their height, and Coleman is used as a hitter when Campbell handles most of the setting.

Junior Jennifer Stroffe and senior Lori Newcomer are the outside hitters. Stroffe is the team’s kill leader and Newcomer is considered one of Orange County’s top all-around players.

Senior Allison Englebrecht and junior Caitlin Pickart give the Sea Kings strong play in the middle, and both are good at hitting the quick set, as is Stroffe.

Campbell leads the team in aces, but nearly every Sea King is a strong server. Juniors Andrea Susson and Hilleary Kehrli come off the bench with strong back-row play and solid serving.

The Sea Kings’ size and blocking caused Laguna Beach fits in their first meeting. Stewart figures the Artists will make some adjustments and play tougher in the State finals.

The pressure, after all, is on his team “because everyone expects us to win.”

He should know, after all. It was only a little more than a decade ago that he and his Artist teammates were expected to win every match.

“This is a one-game opportunity for our girls to put their stamp in the record book,” Stewart said. “Years from now, it will be a neat thing for them to look back and reflect on.

“It’s that way when I run into all my buddies from the 1981 team. There’s a nice bond there.”

Corona del Mar Volleyball Dominance

A breakdown of the Sea Kings’ skills:

Skill: All-around Player: Lori Newcomer Yr.: Sr. Comment: Passes, serves and hits as well Skill: Serving Player: Kristen Campbell Yr.: Jr. Comment: Leads team in aces Skill: Setting Player: Campbell Yr.: Jr. Comment: Stands 5-11, handles majority of setting Skill: Setting Player: Kim Coleman Yr.: Jr. Comment: Stands 6 feet, plays both setter and hitter Skill: Blocking Player: Setters Yr.: Comment: Tall setters are key to Sea Kings’ blocking Skill: Swing hitting Player: Jennifer Stroffe Yr.: Jr. Comment: Leads team in kills Skill: Swing hitting Player: Newcomer Yr.: Sr. Comment: Can hit well from anywhere Skill: Quick hitting Player: Allison Englebrecht Yr.: Sr. Comment: Has improved tremendously this season Skill: Quick hitting Player: Caitlin Pickart Yr.: Junior Comment: Strong up middle with Stroffe, Englebrecht Skill: Substitute Player: Hilleary Kehrli Yr.: Junior Comment: Outstanding defensive player and server Skill: Substitute Player: Andrea Susson Yr.: Junior Comment: Great server and passer