CdM can’t stay with Wildcats

REDLANDS — In less than two hours Corona del Mar High arrived to a dim gymnasium.

Players saw their own shadows on the volleyball court.

The Sea Kings looked like they were in the dark once play began Tuesday night.

Playing Redlands East Valley for the second time in 11 days can have that effect.

The Wildcats quickly sent the Sea Kings home, advancing to the CIF State Division II championship with a 25-17, 25-15, 25-13 victory in the Southern California Regional final.

The match lasted 58 minutes, almost as short as the CIF Southern Section Division II-AA title match between these two programs on Nov. 22.

“It was the same like last time,” said CdM Coach Darryl Gan, who saw Redlands East Valley sweep his Sea Kings for the second time.

The postgame award ceremony lasted longer than one of the games.

CdM (23-9) stood no chance of pulling off the upset.

No arguing that with Redlands East Valley (27-1) easily defeating CdM again.

The only dispute is among athletic administrators at Redlands East Valley. They argue which team actually defeated the Wildcats this season.

They don’t know because it has been a long time since the Wildcats lost.

Gan, in his first year at CdM, left impressed.

“Awfully good,” Gan said. “Awfully big.”

This experience for a CdM team graduating two players can only bode well for the future of the program.

The Sea Kings had no answers for 6-foot-4 middle blocker Victoria Brummett and 6-1 outside hitter Krista Vansant.

Brummett smashed whatever was thrown her way. The Colorado State University-bound senior finished with 10 kills and four blocks.

Vansant led the Wildcats with 12 kills and the sophomore added seven digs and three service aces.

“My coach [Tricia Vansant] told us that [she] read in the newspaper out in the OC somewhere that they recruited like some tall players and tried to practice against [them],” Brummett said. “I think we’re that much of a greater team.”

The back-to-back section championship banner on the wall proved it before the two teams took the court.

Tricia Vansant saw Gan switch up the lineup a little bit from the first meeting.

“Other than that, they looked pretty much the same,” she said.

The Sea Kings started every game with the lead.

CdM just never held on, hurting its opportunity to play for its fifth state girls’ volleyball championship in school history.

The title match on Saturday would’ve been closer to home for CdM as this year’s location is UC Irvine’s Bren Events Center.

Things looked promising in the opening game. Sophomore middle blocker Claire Ham gave CdM a 6-4 lead.

But 14 of the next 16 points belonged to the Wildcats.

Redlands East Valley turned it on, showcasing what CdM lacked.

“I think their consistency,” Ham said of why the Wildcats are so good. “They always get back. They don’t make errors.

“I’m really proud of us.”

Ham, who led the team with nine kills, returns next year, joining setter Madie Smith and outside hitter Sydney Brombal, both will be seniors next season.

Smith finished with 25 assists and seven digs. Brombal contributed seven kills.

“We’re very happy with the way the season turned out,” said Gan, who fulfilled his goal of improving on last year. “Absolutely [we’ll be back] with hard work and some luck.”