It’s Eagles’ Turn to Start Putting Hurt on Opponents

Injuries to key players and other distractions could have sidetracked Santa Margarita, but the Eagles have scrapped their way back into the county’s top 10 poll and to the top of the Serra League.

A four-game victory at Mater Dei last week provided further evidence the Eagles have turned a corner . . . and they could get a lot better.

A nagging shoulder injury that has hampered junior Blake Robinson has improved and the 6-foot-4 outside hitter is beginning to swing at full speed.

“Blake said the therapy is killing him,” Santa Margarita Coach Eddie Rapp said of the massage-type treatment Robinson receives. “But he says afterward, it feels great. He’s just starting to turn it loose.”

Robinson, along with 6-4 junior Damien Scott, give the Eagles two players who should be top Division I recruits next season. But they are ready to take the Eagles to greater heights this season.

With a steady setter in Vince Prietto and two undersized but overachieving senior outside hitters in 5-11 Dustin Creager and 6-foot John Costigan--who is also battling a shoulder injury--the Eagles figure to get more dangerous as their health improves.

CHARGING AHEAD

After losing its first best-of-five match of the season to Huntington Beach, fourth-ranked El Toro hasn’t lost another since, climbing to the top of the South Coast League.

The return of junior Justin Burden from an ankle injury has aided the resurgence.

Although he’s not quite 100% sound, Burden’s passing has served as a steadying influence and he also gives the Chargers another potent weapon alongside outside hitters Kyle Martin, who has signed with UC Irvine, and Jimmy Pelzel.

“We’ve been playing real well together,” said assistant Coley Kyman, who coaches with his wife, Michelle. “The talent has always been there, but we’re putting things together. Michelle is doing a great job. You can see the kids’ belief in our system is starting to pay off.”

RECRUITING NOTES

Pelzel is considered among the top players in a loaded senior class, but he hasn’t made a college choice yet. USC, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine and Arizona are among the schools recruiting Pelzel, Coley Kyman said.

UC Irvine landed a commitment from Newport Harbor’s Brenda Waterman, who helped the Sailors win a second consecutive state Division I and third consecutive Southern Section Division I-AA championship.

Corona del Mar’s Dimitra Havriluk, the co-MVP of the Pacific Coast League, committed to West Virginia.

LOOKING AHEAD

Capistrano Valley’s hopes of moving into second place or higher in the South Coast League standings will depend mainly on a meeting Thursday with seventh-ranked San Clemente. The match features two future UCLA teammates, Capistrano Valley’s Paul Johnson and San Clemente’s Gray Garrett.

Newport Harbor, ranked eighth in the county, gets its Sea View League rematch with top-ranked and unbeaten Irvine when the teams meet Friday at Irvine. The Vaqueros beat the Sailors in four games earlier this season. Newport Harbor, which lost a four-game nonleague match to neighborhood rival Corona del Mar last weekend, is led by Stanford-bound Billy Clayton.

If you have an item or idea for the prep boys’ volleyball report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at mike.itagaki@latimes.com