CIF-SS D3: Meet Corona Del Mar, The Little Team That Could

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a Saturday Halloween morning at Corona Del Mar High School where history was made. The Corona Del Mar girls volleyball team had defeated Crescenta Valley 25-17, 25-22, 23-25, 25-23 to punch its ticket to the CIF-SS Division 3 finals for the first time since 2011.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Sea Kings have had many notable names come through their program such as Casi Doll, Kendall Kipp and Kelsey Humphreys just to name a few, but unfortunately, none of those players wound up winning a CIF championship in the program. This year's Sea Kings team has a chance to deliver a CIF-SS championship back to Eastbluff Drive since 2004 to add its seven other Southern Section championships.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Corona Del Mar is one of the more unique teams in the Southern Section and perhaps could be the best kept secret leading up until now. The team doesn't have one player that's six foot or taller, but that hasn't deterred them by any means.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two of their top players that come to mind Sofia Dajnowiec and Savannah Dennis, who both play on the pin. Dajnowiec, who has been on varsity since she was a freshman, has over 600 kills this year including 25 in the win in the semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two are partially responsible for the Sea Kings finishing in the top four of the always robust Sunset League and earning them the number three seed of the division. But the team doesn't just revolve around those two, as other players have stepped up in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["543170"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aed6d874c084"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Spinella is a transfer from Bishop Gorman who is one of the players on Corona Del Mar who have helped shape this team to what it was is now. Spinella runs a fast-paced offense which helps get the ball to her hitters a lot sooner - avoiding the opposing blockers. Spinella also has a strong serve which often throws teams for a loop and sometimes trickles toward the backline for a service ace. Spinella often wakes up at 3 a.m. for private 5 a.m. practices to help her improve her game and it shows, as she has quarterbacked the team to having a historical season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1060995"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aed6d874c0ba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One thing about Corona Del Mar is that when they feed Piercey the ball, more often than not, magic happens. Piercey had 10 kills in the semifinals and had a great connection with Spinella. Piercey was honest saying that she's not one of the taller middle blockers out there, but she gets up really high off the ground and blocks the ball well. Piercey isn't afraid to go up against anyone, whether it's in practice or in an actual, as she brings a lot of positive energy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1061080"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aed6d874c0e8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Charalabidi started out as one of the main setters for Corona Del Mar, but transitioned to also playing on the right side in a 6-2 offense. Charalabidi is not afraid to go up against a block, as teams will often try to make sure that Dajnowiec and Dennis don't get the ball. But some teams don't know is that Charalabidi is more than capable of getting kills for the Sea Kings. Her setting is also as steady as can be.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1061104"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aed6d874c107"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rosowski started out as the setter for Corona Del Mar, but an injury at the Queens of the Court Tournament sidelined her. By the time she came back, Spinella's sit out period was done, and she had to sit behind her. But the Sea Kings were in need of a libero and Rosowski, without hesitation, accepted. While Rosowski has been a setter throughout her volleyball career, she has adapted well to playing a new position and has a good attitude about it. Rosowksi's passing at the libero position improves by the match, as she's taken the libero position and ran with it without making any complaints.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1061113"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aed6d874c124"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Much like Rosowski, Jen started out playing her natural position as one of the liberos, but an injury to one of Corona Del Mar's middle blockers thrusted her in the middle. Despite this, Jen has picked up the middle blocker position well and isn't afraid to think and be like a middle. On serve receive, Jen passes the ball really well and has a tough serve which can often force opposing teams out of system.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Division 3 Finals: Saturday, November 7 at 12:00 pm: Cerritos College: Corona del Mar vs. Newbury Park.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">If You Enjoyed This Article, Help Us Keep the Momentum Going</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">🔥 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/set_pointiesr/?hl=en#">set_pointiesr</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Take time to explore my IG Page or my show on @iesportsradio that talks all things volleyball from colligate, to the pros, to even high school. 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