Eagles Make Most of a Short-Handed Situation

It wasn’t really a lost weekend for the Santa Margarita boys’ volleyball team. It just might have appeared that way after the Eagles finished 1-3 at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions, Friday and Saturday.

“We knew we weren’t going up there to win the tournament,” Eagle Coach John Hawks said. “We need to get people healthy and ready for the [Southern Section] playoffs. We’re having a great season and there was no need to jeopardize that.”

Princeton-bound outside hitter Blake Robinson didn’t play full-time in the tournament after he had 62 kills in 113 attempts in a five-game victory over Mater Dei on Thursday. That win clinched the Serra League title for the Eagles (13-3, 5-0).

“Blake said his shoulder was killing him [last weekend],” Hawks said. “It’s just soreness though. We just needed to get him some rest.”

Starting setter Jack Pichard also didn’t play Friday after Thursday’s grueling five-game victory. “He was pretty sore too but he’ll be OK,” Hawks said.

The Eagles also played last week without co-captain Damien Scott, who is out because of a broken hand he suffered during a conditioning portion of practice.

“We were running lines and Damien clipped his hand on someone who was taking the nets down,” Hawks said. “He should be ready for the playoffs.

“The doctors said Damien can play when he has no pain. But Damien doesn’t feel pain. We’ll have to hold him out and be smart about how we bring him back.”

MORE SANTA BARBARA

Marina proved it belongs with the elite in the county, as well as the section, with a second-place finish at the prestigious tournament.

Brigham Young-bound middle blocker Steffin Rangel had 70 kills in the semifinals and finals, and the Vikings lost in the championship match to Sacramento Bear River, 15-9, 9-15, 17-15, 15-12.

In the semifinals, Marina defeated Capistrano Valley, ranked second in Division I, 15-9, 13-15, 15-11, 15-11. Rangel had 43 kills against the Cougars.

“I think that it was the battle of the tournament,” Capistrano Valley Coach Rich Polk. “It went 2 1/2 hours.”

Jared Levy had 26 kills and Nic Vislay had 21 for the Cougars, who then lost to Fresno Bullard in the third-place match.

Marina, which was ranked sixth in Division II last week, also defeated fifth-ranked Simi Valley Royal in the quarterfinals. Royal defeated Santa Margarita in the seventh-place match. Newport Harbor finished sixth and Corona del Mar, the defending champion of the tournament, reached the consolation final but lost to San Clemente.

SHORT-HANDED VAQUEROS

Irvine finished tied for third last weekend at the Redondo Union tournament, and that was a strong finish for a team that played without one of its best players, 6-foot-7 senior outside hitter Zach Jardine.

Irvine Coach Mark Mednick said Jardine was declared academically ineligible last Monday.

Middle blocker Jay Jensen has moved to outside hitter and younger players, sophomore middle blocker Stephen Jeltema, have received more playing time in Jardine’s absence, Mednick said.

“I don’t think Zach will be back this season,” Mednick said. “I feel bad for the seniors, but the season’s not over yet. I think the kids will respond.”

LOOKING AHEAD

The biggest potential league-title match remaining takes place Friday, when Marina, ranked third in the county, hosts No. 2 Fountain Valley.

The Southern Section playoff pairings will be released Sunday, with first-round and wild-card matches beginning next week.

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BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL TOP 10

Orange County Sportswriters’ Poll

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Pos. School League Record 1. Foothill (2) Century 10-1 2. Fountain Valley (3) Sunset 10-2 3. Marina (7) Sunset 16-3 4. Santa Margarita (1) Serra 14-3 5. Capistrano Valley (4) South Coast 14-2 6. Irvine (5) Sea View 11-1 7. Newport Harbor (6) Sea View 9-7 8. San Clemente (9) South Coast 11-5 8. Mater Dei (8) Serra 7-4 10. Ocean View (NR) Golden West 17-1

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Last week’s rankings in parentheses