ANAHEIM – Ethan Saint had a team-high 25 kills for Santa Margarita on Saturday as the Eagles swept Servite in three sets, 27-25, 25-18, 25-22, in a semifinal of CIF Southern Section Division 2 at Servite High.
Santa Margarita (24-4) will face Redondo (24-6) in the final on Saturday, May 11. The two teams have not played each other this season.
Santa Margarita outside hitter Ethan Saint slams the ball against Servite during the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball playoff semifinals at Servite High School in Anaheim on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, photographer collaborater)
Santa Margarita’s Brooks Ignosci digs deep to return the ball against Servite in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball playoffs at Servite High School in Anaheim on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
The Servite bench and team fans cheer for a point against Santa Margarita in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball playoffs at Servite High School in Anaheim on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Servite setter Joaquin Rigdon gets under the ball as the Friars take on Santa Margarita in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball playoffs at Servite High School in Anaheim on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Sam Gangwer , collaborating photographer)
Servites fan Matthew Urias holds a Grogu doll for Star Wars Day, May 4, and cheers as Santa Margarita took on Servite in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball playoffs at Servite High School Anaheim on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, contributing photographer)
Servite setter Joaquin Rigdon puts the ball near the net against Santa Margarita in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball playoffs at Servite High School in Anaheim on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Servite hitter Jake Schutt passes the ball over the hands of Santa Margarita defender Chase Wallin during the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball playoffs at Servite High School in Anaheim on Saturday, May 4, 2024. ( Sam Gangwer, contributing photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Brooks Ignosci, center, and Fenton Regan, left, shout in celebration after the Eagles beat Servite in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 men’s volleyball playoffs at the Servite High School in Anaheim on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, contributing photographer)
Servite blockers Joaquin Rigdon, left, and Cooper Truong, right, attempt to stop a Santa Margarita shot in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball playoffs at Servite High School in Anaheim on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, contributing photographer)
Santa Margarita blockers Luke Ackerman, left, and Brendan Relvas, right, connect with a shot made by Servite in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball playoffs at Servite High School Anaheim on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, contributing photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Luke Ackerman, left, and Ethan Saint, right, stand up to block a shot against Servite in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball playoffs at Servite High School d ‘Anaheim on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, contributing photographer)
Santa Margarita blocker Ethan Saint attempts to stop a Servite shot during the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball playoff semifinals at Servite High School in Anaheim, Saturday, May 4, 2024. ( Sam Gangwer, contributing photographer)
Servite blockers Eamon Rigdon, left, and Quentin Ryan, right, can’t stop a Santa Margarita shot in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball playoffs at Servite High School in Anaheim on Saturday, May 4, 2024 (Sam Gangwer, contributing photographer)
The CIF-SS office will announce the competition site on Monday.
Servite (19-14) could be selected to play in the CIF Southern California regional playoffs which begin May 14. Regional brackets will be released on May 12.
Santa Margarita will play its fifth CIF-SS men’s volleyball championship match. The Eagles are 3-1 in finals and won championships in 1997, 1998 and 2001.
Eagles senior outside hitter Brooks Ignosci had 15 kills and 12 digs. Freshman passer Chase Wallin had 40 assists.
Santa Margarita coach Sinan Tanik got the overall team effort he wanted.
“When I’m most proud of my team is when everyone contributes,” said Tanik, who is in his third season as Santa Margarita’s head coach after playing and coaching for many years in Europe and Turkey. “Yes, we have our heavy weapons. But when everyone contributes, it’s very important.
Santa Margarita defeated Servite twice in Trinity League matches during the regular season, including a 3-2 win at Servite and a 3-0 win at Santa Margarita.
“Every time you play Servite, you have to play well,” said Saint, a 6-3 senior outside hitter who signed with UC Santa Barbara. “We came out with a lot of energy and our team played well.”
The match featured plenty of high-speed spikes and athletic digs in all three sets.
A Saint kill gave Santa Margarita a 15-10 lead in the first set, the Eagles’ largest lead in that set.
Servite relied on USC-signed 6-6 senior outside hitter Eamon Rigdon and fellow seniors Quinn Rosenkranz and Connor Truong to lead their charge in the first set. The Friars took leads of 23-22 and 25-24 but were unable to secure the victory, with Santa Margarita taking the set 27-25.
Santa Margarita gained momentum midway through the second set and cruised to a 25-18 victory.
As in the first two sets, Servite took an early lead before Santa Margarita made a mid-set run to win it 25-22.
“Servite is a very good team at all positions,” Tanik said. “This year I think we fought really well against them.”
Saint said the Eagles need to play like they did Saturday to beat Redondo in the final.
“I think we just have to stay vigilant,” Saint said. “Serving and passing are always important, and you have to play good defense and blocking. Just the whole game, really.
