Irvine Sweeps Santa Margarita in Volleyball

IRVINE — The Irvine boys’ volleyball team had little trouble disposing of Santa Margarita in Sea View League play Tuesday at Irvine High.

The first-place Vaqueros (10-1, 5-0), ranked fourth in the county, finished the first half of the league season with a three-game sweep of No. 10 Santa Margarita, 15-11, 15-6, 15-11.

The Vaqueros scored the last five points in the opening game, then built a 13-0 lead in the second game and were not threatened the rest of the way. Blair Eldridge and Mark Ramirez had five kills apiece for Irvine in the first game.

The second game belonged to Jeff Miller, who had three kills and three blocks.

“Jeff played real well in the second game,” Irvine Coach Mark Mednick said. “Pretty much everything he did went well.” The Vaqueros took advantage of Eagles’ Coach Eddie Rapp’s decision to bench Justin DeBlasio midway through the second game. DeBlasio did not return until midway through the third game.

“I couldn’t believe he sat (DeBlasio),” Mednick said. “He seemed to be playing real well for them. He was digging everything.”

The Vaqueros jumped ahead, 8-2, in the third game, and led, 11-6, before the Eagles (8-4, 3-2) made their final run. Santa Margarita’s Mike Whelan and Nick Mauro had two kills each, pulling the Eagles to within 14-11, but Justin Konoske’s service ace sealed the victory for Irvine.