HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL : Corona del Mar Wins Title

Undefeated and top-ranked Corona del Mar, battling back after squandering a two-game lead, defeated Laguna Beach, 15-7, 15-4, 12-15, 2-15, 15-4, to win the State Division I girls volleyball championship Saturday night at Cal State Fullerton.

Outside hitters Lori Newcomer and Jennifer Stroffe paced the versatile Sea Queens (24-0) to victory. Newcomer had 13 kills and a Division I record 35 digs, with Stroffe adding 17 kills and 20 digs.

The Sea Queens were able to neutralize Rachel Wacholder, Laguna Beach’s powerful attacker, on the way to winning the first two games. But Wacholder (23 kills, 27 digs, three service aces) and Hilary Kyle (15 kills, 33 digs) played well the next two games, helping the Artists (22-3) even the score.

Corona del Mar wasted little time regrouping in the final game, taking an 8-0 lead and winning easily. It was the third state championship for the Sea Queens in three appearances in the title game.

The Laguna Beach defense had 110 digs, but it was not enough to prevent a loss to the team that finished the season ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today.

In other matches:

DIVISION II--Santa Cruz Harbor (25-6) became the first Northern California team since 1990 to win a state title with a 15-8, 15-10, 15-7 victory over San Diego Torrey Pines (27-8). Michaela Christie led Harbor with 13 kills and 25 digs.

DIVISION III--Newport Harbor (20-4) won its first state title in three trips to the finals with a 15-8, 15-4, 15-12 decision over Aptos (38-9). Misty May had 18 kills for the Sailors.

DIVISION IV--Sami Sawyer had nine kills and six aces, and Alison Nofrey added 10 kills and three blocks to lead Ojai Nordhoff (24-3) to a 15-2, 15-7, 15-4 victory over Forrestville El Molino (26-4).

DIVISION V--Karen Benkovsky had 13 kills and seven digs and Kathleen Bunce added 11 kills and six aces to lead defending champion Capistrano Valley Christian (22-0) to a 15-7, 15-3, 15-5 victory over Atherton Sacred Heart Prep (25-4). The Eagles also beat Sacred Heart in last year’s final.