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Damian Calhoun. Sports Newsroom Assistant.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 24, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The second-ranked Corona del Mar girls volleyball team finished the first half of Pacific Coast League play in a familiar position of first place.

The Sea Kings entered Thursday match with Northwood tied for first place.

Katie Craig’s 16 kills and 17 from the middle blocker combo of Natalie Bruening (nine) and Samantha Jones (eight) went a long way to ensure the Sea Kings (15-3, 5-0) would wake up on top of the league thanks to a 25-14, 27-25, 25-21 road victory over the Timberwolves (16-5, 4-1).

“I would say that was a much more focused performance,” CdM coach Steve Astor said. “Our league is getting better every year and it is going to be even better next year. I think we were more focused tonight.”

Tuesday night, CdM went four sets on the road against Beckman. Astor said the effort against Northwood seemed to be a notch above the one from earlier in the week.

“They did a good job of making adjustments in this match,” he said of his team. “There were times where we didn’t play great, but we made some adjustments and changed some things.”

After a relatively easy first set, the Sea Kings needed to fight to keep their momentum targeting toward a sweep.

CdM led in the second 16-12, but it was Northwood that would get to set point first. The Timberwolves took a 24-23 lead on a kill by Bergen Gubernik. Craig saved the Sea Kings with a kill to tie the set.

Paige Migliori followed with an ace, giving the Sea Kings set point, but Gubernik kept Northwood alive with a kill. However, CdM scored the final two points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

“I think they (Northwood) had leads in every set,” Astor said. “We talk all year about being steady. Be excited after a good play and be real steady after a bad play. I thought we did a good job of being positive all night.”

Gubernik led Northwood with 11 kills.

“We had an off night,” Northwood coach Brandon Emery said. “They (CdM) played well and we for whatever reason, struggled in our own gym.”

The teams will meet again Nov. 4 at Corona del Mar.

In the Sea View League

No. 1 Aliso Niguel 3, Mission Viejo 0: Lindsey Ruddins had 21 kills to lead the visiting Wolverines (21-1, 4-0) to the 25-14, 25-8, 25-13 victory.

Kathryn Plummer had nine kills, 15 assists and seven digs.

In the Crestview League

No. 6 Villa Park 3, Foothill 0: Peyton Grahovac led the Spartans (19-5, 3-0) with 10 kills and seven blocks in the 25-16, 25-16, 25-11 home victory.