PREP VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP : No. 1 El Toro Sweeps Past San Clemente

If there were any doubts about El Toro’s No. 1 ranking in Orange County boys’ volleyball, they were erased Wednesday when the Chargers swept third-ranked San Clemente in a South Coast League match at El Toro.

Outside hitter Ryan Mariano had 17 kills and Chris Jacobson 10 kills and four blocks to lead El Toro to a 15-11, 15-9, 15-4 victory. The Chargers clinched their first league title since 1989.

El Toro (14-1, 9-0 in league) won Game 1 on the strength of Mariano’s 10 kills and Todd Steinert’s steady setting. He finished with 43 assists.

The Chargers, top-ranked in the Southern Section Division I poll, scored nine of the last 11 points to win Game 2 and opened Game 3 with a 9-0 run.

“Buzzsaw is a good word for it,” San Clemente Coach Mike Hurlbut said. “I’m disappointed with the poor match we played, especially when the league title was at stake.”

San Clemente (12-2, 7-2), ranked fifth in Division I, must defeat Dana Hills on Friday to claim second place in league. El Toro is the only team to defeat the Tritons, including a five-game thriller, April 15.

In that match, San Clemente won two of the first three games, including a 15-1 victory in Game 3. Since then, the Chargers have won six consecutive games against San Clemente, including a victory in the semifinals of the Tournament of Champions at Cal State Northridge on April 30.

Although Corin Bemus had 14 kills and Gabe Gardner added 12 kills and three blocks for the Tritons on Wednesday, Phinney Gardner (three kills) and Eric Krogh (five kills) were noticeably quiet after playing prominent roles in the first match against El Toro.

“I still think San Clemente is the best team we’ve played,” El Toro Coach Mike Jagd said. “I think they should be No. 2 in the county, and to beat them in three . . . “

Jagd hopes it is a preview of coming attractions. With the playoffs beginning May 13, the Chargers are peaking at the right time.

In the Pacific Coast League:

Estancia 3, Century 0--Dave White had seven kills for 10th-ranked Estancia (13-1, 8-1), which won, 15-2, 15-1, 15-2.

Laguna Beach 3, Costa Mesa 0--Dan Styles, Beau Bianchi, and Szilard Kovacs each had nine kills for fourth-ranked Laguna Beach (13-1, 9-0), which won, 15-1, 15-2, 15-1. The Artists play second-place Estancia on Friday.

Trabuco Hills 3, Laguna Hills 2--Junior Chris Congo had 30 kills and Matt Grace had 10 blocks for Trabuco Hills (6-8, 5-4), which won, 15-4, 12-15, 9-15, 15-7, 15-13.