Corona del Mar can't keep up, loses to Redlands East Valley

CYPRESS - Redlands East Valley swept into Cypress College on Saturday afternoon and swept Corona del Mar out Saturday night.

Moving up a division did not slow them down, as the Wildcats claimed their second consecutive CIF-SS championship, this one in Division II-AA, with a 25-16, 25-20, 25-13 victory. They have lost only two postseason games.

"They came out strong from the start and never really let up," Corona del Mar senior middle blocker Conley Kipp said. "We had a hard time keeping up with them.

"We played our hearts out, and they just outplayed us."

Led by towers of power Krista Vansant (6-foot-2) and Victoria Brummett (6-4), the Wildcats reeled off decisive runs to keep the Sea Kings at bay. Redlands broke open the first and third games with seven-point streaks. They quickly emerged from a second-game tie, 16-16, with a 23-17 advantage.

"It was fun to play them here, but it was scary at the same time," Sea Kings coach Darryl Gan said. "I've got to hand it to Redlands East Valley — they were on a mission tonight."

Vansant led the Wildcats with 11 kills and 12 digs, and Brummett had nine kills and five blocks. The team had five aces.

"I think our serving helped keep them out of their system," Wildcats coach Tricia Vansant said. "We really did try to keep them on their toes, move them around a lot."

Sydney Brombal had eight kills for the Sea Kings, Amanda Nickel had seven and Kipp had five.

Corona del Mar begins the state playoffs on Tuesday. Last year it lost to Cathedral of Los Angeles in the first round.

In Division V-AA:

Connelly captured its third consecutive CIF-SS title, sweeping Coastal Christian of Arroyo Grande, 25-17, 26-24, 25-14, at Cypress College.

"I inherited a team of players who learned how to jell," first-year coach Garry Currier said of a squad that featured only two seniors in its rotation. "These are my sisters, not my team."

Freshman opposite Nicole Yost led Connelly with 11 kills, senior libero Christine Yost had 42 digs and sophomore setter Gecelle Deguia had 10 assists.

The Koalas, No. 1 overall seeds and San Joaquin League champions, improved to 18-5 and will begin the state playoffs Tuesday.

"I tell them I don't scout other teams, because I want us to worry about us, and not any other team," Currier said. "If we play solid, we pass well, we'll be unbeatable."

Contact the writer: jkay@ocregister.com