Bannon sets CdM for semis

CORONA DEL MAR ? When junior setter Phil Bannon missed a key Pacific Coast League match against Tesoro on April 28, it illustrated how important he is for the Corona del Mar High boys’ volleyball team to play at its highest level.

Since that match ? a five-game loss for the Sea Kings ? Bannon has Corona del Mar’s offense running smoothly, resulting in nothing but victories. The latest was Friday night’s 25-21, 25-21, 25-19 sweep over No. 10-ranked San Marcos in the CIF Southern Section Division II quarterfinals.

Bannon, who started on last year’s Division II title team as a sophomore, made all the right decisions, putting up timely backsets and running the team’s offense effectively from the middle out. As a result, the Sea Kings were dominant at the net and potent hitting from the outside.

With Bannon going to the middle often, middle blockers Scott Slaughter and Gus Ellis combined for 23 kills. The duo also registered seven blocks.

Junior outside hitter Adam Smith tallied 10 kills, eight digs and three aces, and junior Blaine Nielsen added eight kills and a block. Bannon finished with 36 assists in the sweep.

“He’s pretty seasoned, he set us to the CIF championship game last year,” Corona del Mar Coach Steve Conti said. “That’s experience you just can’t teach.”

Slaughter, a 6-foot-7 senior heading to UC Santa Barbara on an athletic scholarship, and Ellis, a 6-6 sophomore, were the happy recipients of Bannon’s focus on setting the middle. Slaughter had 13 kills, including the game-two winner.

When San Marcos (12-9) pulled to within 22-21 in the first game and appeared to have gained momentum, Ellis came through with a kill and a block to kill the attempted comeback.

“[Slaughter and Ellis] were unbelievable,” Bannon said. “They really stepped it up. They were blocking everything.”

In the first two games, the only flaw for Corona del Mar (26-5) was its serving. At a point in each of the first two games, the Sea Kings had three consecutive service errors. But it only put off the inevitable ? a Sea King sweep ? because the team was otherwise in fine form, coming up with key digs and timely blocks.

Corona del Mar’s block forced San Marcos hitters to alter several of their swings, which led to errant hits. Conversely, the Sea Kings swung away at will and rarely were off-target.

“We’re making a good push right now,” Bannon said. “We’re just spreading the ball around and everyone was on their game.”

The Sea Kings fell behind early in the third game, but a kill by Ellis and block by Nielsen put the team back in it. Smith delivered an ace to give Corona del Mar its first lead at 12-11 and the Sea Kings never trailed again.

Corona del Mar ended the game with a 17-8 run, highlighted by Smith’s kill off a cross-court set by Bannon and closed out by Smith’s ace off the net.

“I’d say our passing was the key,” Slaughter said. “We came out and took care of the ball from the start, which opens up everything for us.”

Corona del Mar closed the regular season by defeating Back Bay rival Newport Harbor in five games. Bannon amassed 51 assists in the triumph. After a first-round bye, Bannon had 32 assists in a sweep of Yucaipa in the second round.

Bannon’s effectiveness has led to sparkling play at the net and consistency outside.

“A lot of it is ball control, getting the ball to the net,” Conti said. “We have three good middle blockers on this team, Slaughter, Ellis and Brian Baldwin. When Slaughter was hurt earlier this season, Baldwin came in and did a great job.”

Looking ahead after Corona del Mar’s second consecutive playoff sweep, the team plays Santa Barbara in the semifinals on Wednesday. Santa Barbara, which is ranked No. 3 in the division, was the Channel League champions. The Dons defeated Arcadia, 25-20, 25-20, 25-14, in their quarterfinal match.

San Marcos took third in the Channel League, so the Dons figure to be stiff competition.

“They are very solid and they have some studs on their team,” Conti said.

The location of Wednesday’s semifinal will be determined by a coin flip today.

The other semifinal will feature top-seeded Valencia and Tesoro.dpt-volley20.IMGGraphicInfoRH1R5FVF20060520RH1R5FVFNo Captiondpt.20-volley-4-CPhotoInfoGI1R5FUV20060520izjq1snc(LA)dpt.20-volley-5-CPhotoInfoGI1R5FU620060520izjq5vncPHOTOS BY MARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Above, Corona del Mar’s Gus Ellis, center, hits over the block of San Marcos’ Colin Martorana, left, and Jeff Menzel, right, during Friday’s CIF Southern Section Division II quarterfinal. Below, Sea Kings setter Phil Bannon sets the ball. dpt.20-volley-3-BPhotoInfoGI1R5GEV20060520izjpxnncMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Corona del Mar’s Blaine Nielsen passes the ball in the first game of Friday night’s CIF Southern Section playoff match.