No. 3 Santa Margarita Beats Top-Rated Newport Harbor

It wasn’t the Southern Section boys’ volleyball final, but Santa Margarita still savored its two-game sweep over Newport Harbor in the Orange County Championships Division I final Monday at Golden West College.

Santa Margarita sophomore Blake Robinson, who missed last season with a back injury, had 15 kills to help Santa Margarita, the third-ranked team in Orange County, defeat top-ranked Newport Harbor, 16-14, 15-9.

Robinson had nine kills in the second game, helping Santa Margarita close out the match with four consecutive points.

“It’s just good to be playing again,” said Robinson, who sat on the bench last season as Santa Margarita won its first Southern Section Division I championship. “Watching last season? It stunk.”

The Eagles took control with some tough serving and scrappy defense.

All-tournament selections Bryan Kallenbaugh (three blocks) and Dan Mora (10 kills, 10 digs) played key roles in the first game and tournament MVP Andy Mauro (29 assists, 12 digs) and John Costigan (13 digs) helped frustrate Newport Harbor’s attack.

Alan Limon, who had six kills, and Adam Hearlson, who had five kills and five blocks, both earned all-tournament honors for Newport Harbor, which won the San Diego Tournament of Champions Mar. 13. and is unbeaten in its two best-of-five game matches.

“Any time you can beat the No. 1 team in the county,” Rapp said, “especially when it’s Newport Harbor, that’s big.”

Rapp didn’t hide his grin, but he also kept the victory in perspective. And he made sure his team did the same.

“It was good to beat Newport,” said Robinson, who also had 13 digs and three blocks. “But this is the beginning of the season. We want to be winning at the end.”

In the Division II final:

Servite wins--Servite middle blocker Kyle Smith had six kills and six blocks in a 15-7, 15-3 victory over Foothill, giving the Friars their second consecutive Division II championship.

Eric Barnes, who had seven kills and three blocks, and setter Billy Hamilton, who had 25 assists, were named tournament co-MVPs for Servite.

Josh Reyes had six kills and eight digs for Foothill, which fell behind, 10-1, in the first game. Servite closed out the match scoring nine consecutive points.