Santa Margarita finishes strong and on top in Trinity League

Orange Lutheran's Olivia Root hits past Santa Margarita's Julianna Reisinger, left, and Hannah Dolan during the Lancers' loss in Orange Tuesday night.
Orange Lutheran head coach Andrew Mabry talks to players during the Lancers' loss to Santa Margarita in Orange Tuesday night.
Orange Lutheran head coach Andrew Mabry talks with his players during a timeout during the Lancers' loss to Santa Margarita in Orange Tuesday night.
Santa Margarita head coach Katy Daly talks to her players during a timeout during the Eagles' victory against Orange Lutheran in Orange Tuesday night.
Santa Margarita head coach Katy Daly watches from the sidelines during the Eagles' victory against Orange Lutheran in Orange Tuesday night.
Orange Lutheran's Julia Frederick, right, and Jada Northington high-five teammates before the Lancers' loss to Santa Margarita in Orange Tuesday night.
Orange Lutheran's Sydnee Boley bumps the ball during the Lancers' loss to Santa Margarita in Orange Tuesday night.
Orange Lutheran fans cheer on their team during the Lancers' loss to Santa Margarita in Orange Tuesday night.
Orange Lutheran's Kaylie Milton spikes the ball past Santa Margarita's Jackie Ghindia, left, and Meghan McClure during the Lancers' loss in Orange Tuesday night.
Orange Lutheran's Jada Northington tries to spike the ball past Santa Margarita's Devon Chang and Haley Carmo during the Lancers' loss in Orange Tuesday night.
Santa Margarita prepares to take the court against Orange Lutheran during the Eagles' victory in Orange Tuesday night.
Santa Margarita's Haley Carmo gets above Orange Lutheran's Alice Samoylovich for the ball during the Eagles' victory in Orange Tuesday night.
Santa Margarita's Sarah Ciszek, center, and Haley Carmo, right, block a shot by Orange Lutheran's Jada Northington during the Eagles' victory Tuesday in Orange.
Orange Lutheran's Bailey Anderson sets the ball as her father, former Angels slugger Garret Anderson, watches from the stands during the Lancers' loss to Santa Margarita in Orange Tuesday night.
Orange Lutheran's Olivia Root blocks a shot by Santa Margarita's Julianna Reisinger during the Lancers' loss in Orange Tuesday night.
Santa Margarita prepares to take the court against Orange Lutheran during the Eagles' victory in Orange Tuesday night.
Orange Lutheran's Jada Northington tries to hit past the Santa Margarita defense during the Lancers' loss in Orange Tuesday night.
Orange Lutheran's Kaylie Milton is blocked by Santa Margarita's Haley Carmo, left, and Devon Chang during the Eagles' victory in Orange Tuesday night.
Santa Margarita's Jackie Ghindia, right, blocks a shot by Orange Lutheran's Jada Northington during the Eagles' victory in Orange Tuesday night.
Santa Margarita's Jackie Ghindia, left, and Meghan McClure try to stop Orange Lutheran's Kaylie Milton during the Eagles' victory in Orange Tuesday night.
Meghan McClure, left, who led Santa Margarita with 11 kills, celebrates next to Hannah Dolan during the Eagles' 25-15, 25-15, 25-16 victory Tuesday over Orange Lutheran.
Santa Margarita's Meghan McClure tries to hit past Orange Lutheran's Alice Samoylovich, left, and Sydnee Boley during the Eagles' victory in Orange Tuesday night.
Santa Margarita's Meghan McClure tries to hit past Orange Lutheran's Alice Samoylovich, left, and Sydnee Boley during the Eagles' victory in Orange Tuesday night.

By Damian Calhoun | dcalhoun@scng.com | Daily Breeze

November 3, 2015 at 11:00 p.m.

The Santa Margarita girls volleyball team had the look of a team that is ready for the challenges ahead in the CIF-SS playoffs.

The second-ranked Eagles were in control throughout the match against ninth-ranked Orange Lutheran, coming away with a 25-15, 25-15, 25-16 road victory that clinched the Trinity League title Tuesday night.

Pairings for the CIF-SS playoffs will be released Friday.

“I truly feel like that the last three matches that we’ve played, that we’ve got our groove back, so to speak,” Santa Margarita coach Katy Daly said. “The two weeks that we kind of started to second guess ourselves on the court, it was all mental, and as a coach, you want to fix it right away, but you have to let them figure it out.”

Since they lost in their second league match, to Mater Dei on Oct. 8, the Eagles (30-3, 7-1) dropped only one set in their remaining league matches.

“I told them tonight that I’m proud of them,” Daley said. “They played confident, we ran our middles, passed the ball, so I’m proud of them that this is where they are right now.”

Meghan McClure led the Eagles with 11 kills. Sarah Ciszek and Haley Carmo had nine apiece. Devon Chang had 33 assists and 18 digs.

Looking back, the loss to Mater Dei might have been what the Eagles needed.

“I like our confidence level, I like where their heads at, and I like their work ethic,” Daly said. “I think they’re all on board. At this time of the season it is hard because you’ve spent a lot of time together, but they’re ready to work, which I like.”

Kaylie Milton led the Lancers with 10 kills.

The Lancers (22-9, 3-5) are a strong candidate for an at-large berth in Division 1AA.

JSerra (4-4 in league) secured third place and the league’s final guaranteed spot into the playoffs with a win over Rosary.

In the Freeway League:

Troy 3, La Habra 0: Brenna Hickey led the Warriors (22-7, 10-0) with 13 kills, and Zoe Wang added 12 in a 25-18, 25-20, 25-12 victory that clinched the league title. Troy is ranked sixth in CIF-SS Division 2A.

In the Pacific Coast League:

No. 5 Corona del Mar 3, Irvine 0: The Sea Kings (21-4, 10-0) put the finishing touch on a perfect league record and title with a 25-10, 25-11, 25-10 victory. Natalia Bruening led CdM with 10 kills. Sydney Alacano and Kendall Kipp had nine apiece.

In the Orange Coast League:

Laguna Beach 3, Godinez 0: The Breakers (18-10, 10-0) captured their 100th consecutive league victory with a 25-6, 25-12, 25-11 win at home. Cameron Dorn had 10 kills to lead Laguna Beach. Katelyn Carballo had eight kills.

Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com