No. 3 Sea Kings Cruise into Second Round

Corona del Mar defeated Capistrano Valley, 15-9, 15-10, 15-12, in a Southern Section Division I volleyball playoff game Friday at Corona del Mar.

The victory advances the third-seeded Sea Kings to the second round to play Palmdale Highland on Tuesday with the site to be determined by a coin flip.

Corona del Mar (18-1), which defeated the Cougars in for the second time this season, reached a match point against Capistrano Valley (10-6) at 14-8. But it took 19 side outs and four Cougar points before a spike by Alec Hanson finally ended it.

Capistrano Valley’s 6-foot-8, UCLA-bound middle blocker Paul Johnson had 27 kills, including six when the Cougars were facing match point.

Corona del Mar setter Kevin Hansen found senior outside hitter Greg Stampley all over the court, and he finished with 27 kills. Corona del Mar middle blocker Forrest Mack contributed 12 kills, most of them in the second and third games.