LA CAÑADA  — Corona del Mar ensured its return to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section girls’ volleyball playoffs, seemingly more in control than the route it last took to this round.

Sofia Dajnowiec’s 29 kills sent the Sea Kings to a 25-18, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21 victory Saturday at Flintridge Prep in La Cañada Flintridge, as third-seeded CdM booked its spot among the final eight in the Division 3 bracket.

At this time last fall, the Sea Kings demonstrated their resilience and resolve in going to three consecutive five-set matches in the postseason, including their exit against Foothill.

Corona del Mar (23-9) has proven far more dominant in its current playoff run, surrendering a single set — one it led 18-13 before a late rally by the Wolves extended the match — in an otherwise comfortable two matches.

“I feel like last quarterfinals, I kind of was off my game, and I felt so bad for the seniors that graduated,” said Dajnowiec, the Sea Kings’ star outside hitter. “I feel like I could have played better for them, but this year, I’m not just playing for the other seniors, but now, I guess I’m a senior, too, so also for myself.

“A lot of the girls on the team are seniors, juniors, and we really want it really bad this year. We want to prove ourselves, kind of prove that this season we really developed as a team, and that we deserve to be here and hopefully win — get to [the] semi[finals] and further on.”

The Sea Kings were scheduled to play at Pasadena La Salle (21-10) in a quarterfinal match Wednesday at 6 p.m., with the result coming in after print deadline.

Isabella Spinella, a junior transfer from Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, orchestrated the offense, distributing 50 assists and adding five kills for the Sea Kings against Flintridge Prep (21-4).

“As a setter, and kind of being the team’s quarterback, I want to be able to lead my team to not just quarterfinals, but to finals, and to win that title,” Spinella said. “I want to be able to bring those girls even further than where they’ve been. It would mean so much to me if we, as a team, could do that.”

The hunt for a section title, which would be the program’s eighth overall and first since 2004, is ample motivation. But if that wasn’t enough, Spinella spoke to the environment inside the gym.

“They had a DJ in the background, but I honestly think that fired us up, because we were like, ‘Oh, they want to do that? We can do that, too.’” she added. “I just think as a team, when we all get fired up, we just play more aggressive and better … A lot of bodies were flying around. A lot of people were cranking it.”

Senior outside hitter Savannah Dennis contributed a dozen kills, junior middle blocker Cooper Piercey had eight kills and 2½ total blocks, and junior opposite Myrto Charalabidi’s six kills rounded out the attack.

Freshman Sarah Rosing (three service aces) and sophomore Shea Natland (two aces) made an impact from the service line, and senior libero Livi Rosowski made a diving dig late in the fourth set that CdM converted into a Dennis kill, providing scoreboard separation at 22-19 to close out the match.

“I think this year, the maturity level is just different than last year,” said CdM coach Max Gamboa, who is in his second season leading CdM’s girls’ program. “Last year, we had our first two rounds of CIF go five [sets], and that was a little bit of a battle for us. This year, we got out of the first one in three, and then got out of the second one in [four].

“I really thought we should have had that third, but I think the maturity level that the girls are showing and the focus throughout the match is really what’s taking us over.”

Senior outside hitter Makayla Jones had 19 kills and two blocks to lead Flintridge Prep, which finished second to Pasadena Mayfield in the Prep League.

Sophomore setter Brooklyn Sheldahl added 37 assists, 2½ blocks and two kills, senior pin hitter Frankie Callaway had nine kills, and senior middle blocker Lora Kotikian chipped in with three kills and four block assists.

Also in the CIF Southern Section girls’ volleyball playoffs:

Redondo Union 3, Newport Harbor 2: The top-seeded Sailors squandered a lead after three sets, as the host Sea Hawks authored the upset, 25-22, 17-25, 21-25, 25-15, 15-8, on Tuesday in a Division 2 quarterfinal match.

Newport Harbor (29-7) finished second to Los Alamitos in the Sunset League this season.

Redondo Union (21-11) advances to play at San Juan Hills (21-12) in the semifinals on Saturday.