NORWALK — After each kill early in the third set, Redondo junior middle blocker Robert Bennett pointed down to the court and implored his setter to “give me every ball.”
Bennett was the most consistent source of production Saturday for the Sea Hawks, who were trying to prevent an emotional letdown after coughing up a late five-point advantage and the second set of the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 boys volleyball championship match.
Santa Margarita senior outside hitter Ethan Saint had other ideas, as his match-high 24 kills powered the Eagles to a 25-21, 26-24, 25-18 sweep over Redondo at Cerritos College to capture the program’s fourth CIF-SS title and first since 2001.
The top-seeded Sea Hawks (23-7) could only look back at the pivotal second set, which they led 20-15 and served for set point at 24-22.
Redondo’s Robert Bennett, right, spikes the ball through the defense of Santa Margarita during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Brooks Ignoschi, left, blocks the shot by Redondo’s Luke Goldman, right, during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Redondo’s Luke Goldman, center, spikes through the defense of Santa Margarita’s, Ryan MacCartie, right, during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Redondo’s Farina Maschmeyer sets the ball during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
The Redondo cheerleaders support their team during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
The Redondo team was runner-up in the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Redondo’s Robert Bennett, right, had his shot rejected by Santa Margarita’s Fenton Regan, left, during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Redondo’s Luke Goldman, right, attempts to shoot over Santa Margarita’s Luke Ackerman, left, during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Brooks Ignosci, left, and Ryan MacCartie, center, attempt to block a shot by Redondo’s Robert Bennett, right, during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Ethan Saint, left, spikes the ball into the defense of Redondo’s Vaughan Flaherty, center, and Cash Essert, right, during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Blake Herman, left, shoots towards Redondo’s Luke Goldman, right, during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Fenton Regan, left, returns the ball as Redondo’s Drew Blair defends during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Redondo’s Cash Essert, right, shoots on the Santa Margarita defense during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Luke Ackerman, left, smashes the ball towards Redondo’s Cash Essert, right, during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Redondo’s Luke Goldman, right, hits as Santa Margarita’s defense, Brooks Ignosci, left, and Fenton Regan, center, set up to block during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Brooks Ignosci, left, shoots through the Redondo defense during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Brooks Ignosci, left, shoots past the Redondo defense of Cash Essert, center, and Vaughan Flaherty, right, during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Fenton Regan celebrates a point during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Redondo’s Shane Friedman sets the ball during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
The Redondo bench tries to pump up their team during the match between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Redondo’s Drew Blair, left, shoots towards Santa Margarita’s Ryan MacCartie, right, during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Chase Wallin, left, shoots between the defense of Redondo’s Drew Blair, center, and Vaughan Flaherty, right, during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Ryan MacCartie, prepares to set the ball for a teammate during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Brooks Ignosci, left, shoots as Redondo’s Robert Bennett, center, and Shane Friedman, right, attempt to block during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita head coach Sinan Tanik holds up the CIF SS Division 3 championship plaque. Santa Margarita defeated Redondo in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Ethan Saint smashes the ball towards the Redondo side during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Redondo’s Luke Goldman, right, is blocked by Santa Margarita’s Ethan Saint, left, during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Ethan Saint, center, spikes the ball through the Redondo defense, Vaughan Flaherty, left, and Luke Goldman, right, during the championship game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita players celebrate with the championship plaque. Santa Margarita defeated Redondo in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita players touch the championship plaque as head coach Sinan Tanik runs with it by the team. Santa Margarita defeated Redondo in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s coach Sinan Tanik, right, screams in celebration as Hayden Merz, left, and Pasha Shoar, center, rush onto the court after winning the CIF-SS Division 3 Volleyball title in a game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita players celebrate their victory with the championship plaque after defeating Redondo in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Redondo’s Carter Mirabal, left, attempts to spike the ball through the Santa Margarita defense during the game between Redondo vs. Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita players celebrate their victory with the championship plaque after defeating Redondo in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship game at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita poses with the championship plaque at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
“We really took our foot off the gas,” said Bennett, who had a team-high 12 kills. “We got an early lead, we held it all the way up into the 20s and then just kind of pulled back a little bit and they jumped on that. It’s hard to stop a team if they have momentum on their side.”
It was Saint who bookended the stunning 4-0 run with a pair of kills and sophomore middle blocker Fenton Regan’s kill and tandem block with freshman Chase Wallin on the other two points to steal the frame for Santa Margarita (24-4).
Santa Margarita comes back to take set 2 and a 2-0 lead in the match. Ethan Saint on set point.
Redondo had a set-point opportunity up 24-22 before Santa Margarita scores four in a row to steal the set. Saint bookended the run @breezeprepspic.twitter.com/eQmK1BpvHl
— Tracy McDannald 📎 (@Tracy_McDannald) May 11, 2024
Both Saint and Eagles coach Sinan Tanik credited junior reserve setter Vincent Busch for coming off the bench and providing a strong serve to keep the Sea Hawks from running away with the second set.
“(Busch) came in, made two, three really good serves, and then we were able to get the momentum and grind it out,” Saint said.
Added Tanik: “I figured, ‘Hey, why not send in someone new who has a great serve, who can also hit? You know, let’s try this.’ It worked out in the second because (Redondo) kind of found our groove and they were passing well, running the middles as they wanted to. I needed to disrupt their rhythm a little bit.”
Sea Hawks coach Kevin Norman pointed to that lapse in the set and 10 unforced errors in the opening frame.
Redondo, which had five errant serves in the first set, was unable to capitalize on six Santa Margarita attack errors en route to the early deficit. The Sea Hawks trailed by four early and pulled within a point on four occasions, including the last at 18-17, before the Eagles pulled away.
“It’s a great group of guys, that’s what makes it harder for me,” Norman said. “I really enjoy coaching these guys. It would’ve been nice to see the stuff we’ve been focusing on get us a championship.
“Our focus is what gets a championship and unfortunately that team did that a little bit better than we did.”
In the third set, Redondo grabbed an early 4-2 lead before Santa Margarita pulled ahead on the first of two occasions.
Saint, who had no fewer than seven kills in any set, tied it at 8-8 before junior outside hitter Brooks Ignosci followed with one of his own to put the Eagles in front for good.
After Redondo pulled within 12-11, Saint promptly produced a kill and a block to create a cushion before building on the advantage late in the set.
“(Saint) is a really good player,” Bennett said. “He sees the block really well, he hits out of system really well.”
Santa Margarita sophomore Blake Herman served championship point and collected an ace to set off the celebration.
Blake Herman delivers the ace and championship for Santa Margarita, which sweeps Redondo 25-21, 26-24, 25-18 to capture the @CIFSS Division 2 boys volleyball title.
— Tracy McDannald 📎 (@Tracy_McDannald) May 11, 2024
The Eagles never dropped a set in the playoffs, knocking off Royal, Long Beach Wilson and Servite along the way.
“It is special for me because this is my first CIF final,” Tanik said after accomplishing the feat in just his third season at the helm. “This is a totally different feeling of community and support. A lot of people I didn’t know started texting me before the match to send their support. So, this final, this win is extra special for me and I’m happy to bring it back after 20-something years.”
The Sea Hawks will look to regroup in the CIF State playoffs, which begin with Tuesday’s regional opening rounds.
“We’re gonna have another week of play, which is great,” Norman said. “Maybe the guys were feeling the pressure. I have a very new group. I only have three returning varsity guys that contributed last year. So, they haven’t been in a situation like this. A good learning experience for them.”