PREP VOLLEYBALL ORANGE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS : El Toro Caps Series of Upsets With Victory Over Oilers, Title

El Toro made Huntington Beach the last in a series of upsets that marked the Division I Orange County Championships, sweeping the county’s second-ranked team, 15-5, 15-6, in the final Saturday at Marina High.

Earlier, Huntington Beach surprised No. 1 Dana Hills with a thrilling comeback in the semifinals to win, 13-15, 15-10, 16-14. After winning the first game, Dana Hills took an 8-7 lead in the second. But the Oilers went on a 7-2 scoring run and moved the match into the speed-scored third game.

Dana Hills held the lead most of the game, taking a 14-12 lead, but Huntington Beach eked out four points to win the match.

Even the first round of playoffs had unexpected endings. Laguna Beach, which handed El Toro its only loss of the season, fell to Esperanza. The Aztecs then lost to Newport Harbor in the quarterfinals.

El Toro reached the final with a resounding 15-11, 15-10 victory over No. 5 Newport Harbor.

In the first game of the championship, the Chargers scored five consecutive points to take a 6-1 lead, then went on scoring runs of four and five points to take the game. El Toro made one hitting error in each game; Huntington Beach made seven in two games.

El Toro served well, hit from all over the court and dug ball after ball. Its only weakness was an inconsistent block.

The Oilers could not muster an attack in the second game, scoring only seven kills to the Chargers’ 14, while El Toro pounded away at Huntington Beach’s defense. Ryan Mariano ended the match with a kill.

Mariano, a swing-hitter who led both teams with 11 kills, was named to the all-tournament team, as was teammate Jeremy Beck. Setter Todd Steinert was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Also named to the all-tournament team were Oilers Mike Grave and Jeremy Bart, Dana Hills’ Neil Hewko and Mitch McCoy of Newport Harbor.

El Toro Coach Mike Jagd, who left the Chargers after the girls’ 1991 season to coach in Colorado, said the amount of talent he has witnessed since his return is phenomenal.

“I’ve coached in this area for 15 years, and I’ve never seen so many good boys’ volleyball teams,” Jagd said. “This place is just loaded. The South Coast League alone has three teams that could conceivably win the State championship: Dana Hills, San Clemente and us.

“I like winning, but I really enjoy competing.”

In the championship of Division II:

Calvary Chapel 2, Mater Dei 1--Phillip Schildts of Calvary Chapel was named the tournament MVP after leading Calvary Chapel to a 15-8, 12-15, 15-12 victory over Mater Dei at Huntington Beach High.

The Eagles defeated Whittier Christian, 15-8, 15-0, in one semifinal and Mater Dei defeated Foothill, 15-12, 16-14, in the other.