Corona del Mar girls swim coach Doug Volding received the sign he was looking for Wednesday at Woodbridge.
The No. 6 Sea Kings showed they’re serious contenders to capture the Pacific Coast League title by handling No. 9 Woodbridge and Daniela Georges, 101-69, behind double-winner Stephanie Samudro and plenty of depth.
“I needed to see this,” Volding said of his team’s performance. “This certainly is encouraging. … Everybody is stepping up. I’m very happy.”
The upstart Warriors were coming off an 87-83 loss against No. 2 and defending league champion University last week but couldn’t stick with Corona del Mar.
Woodbridge was hurt by a disqualification of its apparent winning 200-yard medley relay to open the meet, but Corona del Mar won the point duels in six of the eight individual events and essentially sealed the triumph by finishing first-second in the 200 free relay.
“They shouldn’t have any trouble with Uni,” Woodbridge coach Pat Bangs said of Corona del Mar. “They just have depth.”
Corona del Mar takes on University on April 29.
“I won’t let the girls get overconfident,” Volding said. “Just because they’re Uni, I’ll approach it cautiously and we’re going to go for it.”
The UNLV-bound Samudro won the 100 butterfly in 57.08 seconds and later touched first in the breaststroke in a season-best 1:04.48. The Golden West Swim Club standout ranks second in the county in both events.
Corona del Mar’s 200 free relay of Meagan Popp, Nicole Lin, Maddie Musselman and Samudro led the first-second finish with a season-best 1:40.62.
Volding praised the contributions of his swimmers known more for their water polo abilities.
USC-bound center Marina Coskinas captured the 500 freestyle (5:33.93), and while U.S. national team attacker Musselman finished second to Georges in the 50 (24.89) and 100 (55.12) freestyles.
Georges blazed a 23.81 in the 50 and a 52.61 in the 100. She also posted an impressive 50.40 anchor split in the 400 free to rally the Warriors to the wall first in 3:38.50.
Alexa Clayfield also was a double winner for Woodbridge, taking the 200 free (1:59.96) and 100 back (59.91).
Corona del Mar’s No. 3 boys defeated Woodbridge, 106-64, behind Tyler Lin’s county-leading 57.43 in the 100 breaststroke. Tim Hanson and Justin Hanson also captured two events apiece for the Sea Kings, including Justin’s swift 51.13 in the butterfly.
In other meets:
No. 1 University boys 130, Beckman 40: Corey Okubo blazed to victories in the 100 butterfly (49.88) and 200 IM (county-leading 1:50.28) to lead the Trojans.
No. 2 University girls 97, Beckman 72: Sophomore Christine Do captured the 100 back (59.48) for the Patriots but the Trojans moved to 2-0 in league.
In the Freeway League:
Troy girls 112, Sonora 73: Jillian Milliken (1:13.34) and Hana Claesson (1:15.52) finished first-second to help lead the visiting Warriors. Taylor Ault captured the 100 (53.80) and 200 freestyles (1:54.97) for the Raiders.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
