SUNRISE REGION: Coronado sweeps Skyhawks, will face Green Valley in Sunrise final

Coronado volleyball coach Matt Johnson prepared his team to face Silverado Thursday with a single-faceted game plan — containing Skyhawks’ outside hitter Kayla Agae.

Johnson’s plan worked to perfection, as Coronado recovered from a sluggish start to rout Silverado 25-22, 25-17, 25-19 in the semifinals of the Sunrise Region tournament at Green Valley.

The Cougars (24-8) will face Green Valley (31-4) in the championship game at 6 p.m. today.

Though Agae managed eight kills, three aces and two blocks, she got little offensive help from her teammates.

“We knew Kayla had the ability to carry a team to victory,” Johnson said. “But we also knew we had more weapons and versatility, and a deeper bench.”

Bench depth proved pivotal late in each set, as Silverado (11-7) managed to keep scores close early before imploding down the stretch.

The only true threat by the Skyhawks came when they jumped to a 6-3 lead in the first set and kept it close until the Cougars tied it at 21 before scoring four of the last five points.

Coronado used a seven-point run in the second set and an 8-1 run in the third as back-breakers, and closed the match on a kill by Carolyn Andrulis.

Johnson said he likes his team’s chances in the finals against Green Valley.

“We feel good now that we’ve moved on and can actually be an underdog in a match,” said Johnson, whose squad was defeated in three sets by the Gators last month. “I’m sure everybody expects

Green Valley to win, but we’re going to go out there and do our best. We’ve got some players who can make a difference, and maybe they’ll help us pull off an upset.”

Lia Herlosky led Coronado with 10 kills. Cali Thompson added 33 assists and four aces, and teammate Riley Lawrence had 13 digs.

Green Valley 3, Foothill 0 — Junior outside hitter Nikki Drost had 13 kills, nine digs and three aces to help the Gators advance to the finals by sweeping the Falcons, 25-19, 25-12, 25-15.

Jenna Swaffer helped Green Valley with 35 assists, and teammate Carly Schiess added 11 kills, seven digs and four aces.

Zoe Wolfenbarger led Foothill (21-14) with 10 assists, nine kills and five digs. Teammate Indoneisha Struve had three blocks and two kills, and Samantha Colella added nine digs.