Santa Margarita Outlasts Irvine

Santa Margarita proved again that it was a team that won’t beat itself, and the Eagles persevered for an 11-15, 15-8, 16-14, 9-15, 15-3 victory over second-seeded Irvine in the Southern Section Division I boys’ volleyball playoffs Friday at Santa Margarita High.

Junior Blake Robinson had 29 kills and 19 digs and John Costigan had 16 kills and 18 digs to help Santa Margarita (15-5) advance to the semifinals to play third-seeded Corona del Mar.

It was the second consecutive five-game victory for Santa Margarita, which beat Simi Valley Royal in the second round after trailing two games to none.

Friday, Santa Margarita seized control of the match by winning an emotional Game 3, which took 44 minutes. Then after Irvine forced a fifth game, Santa Margarita scored the first 11 points of Game 5 and the match ended on two Vaquero hitting errors.

Irvine had a hitting percentage of .091 in the final game and couldn’t consistently find the range throughout the match, thanks in part to Santa Margarita’s defense. After winning Game 1, Irvine had eight kills and eight hitting errors in Game 2.

“That was the best team we’ve played all season,” Irvine Coach Mark Mednick said. “They earned it. We just couldn’t rattle their cage.”

A lineup change for the fourth and fifth games only ended up extending the match for Irvine. Mednick moved Kraushaar from outside hitter to opposite. Kraushaar finished with a team-high 21 kills, but nine came in the first game.

Irvine’s B.J. Fell, who has signed with UC Irvine, finished with 18 kills, 16 coming after Game 2. Although Irvine got a spark off the bench from Derek Silva (seven kills), Santa Margarita kept the pressure on the Vaqueros by just keeping the ball in play.

“We’re just getting better and better,” Santa Margarita Coach Eddie Rapp said.

Setter Vince Prietto had 88 assists, junior Damien Scott had 19 kills and Reid Bradshaw had 15 kills and four blocks for Santa Margarita.

Irvine (15-2), which tied Newport Harbor for the Sea View League title, finished the regular season ranked third in the county.

“We have nothing to hang our heads about,” Mednick said. “They just stepped it up against us.”