Eagles Rally to Beat Mater Dei

Blake Robinson had 62 kills as top-ranked Santa Margarita came back from a two-game deficit to defeat host Mater Dei, 12-15, 11-15, 15-11, 15-11, 15-5, on Thursday.

Early on, it appeared that the eighth-ranked Monarchs (6-4, 2-2) would avenge a three-game loss to the Eagles this month with a sweep of their own.

But after jumping out to a 7-3 lead in the third game, Mater Dei seemed to lose its focus when the momentum shifted to the other side. Santa Margarita (13-0, 5-0), behind the play of Robinson and Travis Toch (16 digs), scored six consecutive points for a 9-7 lead.

Mater Dei took a 9-5 lead in the fourth game, but the Eagles once again refused to give in. With the Monarchs clinging to an 11-9 lead, Santa Margarita ended the game with a 6-0 run to tie the match.

The Eagles continued to ride the momentum in the fifth game, taking a 9-1 lead and coasting to a 15-5 win.

“When you’ve got players that work hard consistently as we do, you’re never out of a match,” Santa Margarita Coach John Hawks said. “We’re deep and we just showed it.”

Outside hitter Jon Daze led the Monarchs with 30 kills.