All-CIF honors for 10 local stars

Corona del Mar High senior middle blocker Scott Slaughter and Costa Mesa High senior outside hitter Ryan Bagwell were named first-team All-CIF Southern in their respective divisions by the Boys’ Volleyball Coaches Assn.

Slaughter was recognized in CIF Division II, while Bagwell earned top honors in Division III.

A total of 10 local players were honored, including four from Corona del Mar, three from Costa Mesa, two from Estancia and one from Newport Harbor.

Corona del Mar juniors Adam Smith and Phil Bannon were second-team Division II selections, while sophomore middle blocker Gus Ellis was a third-team pick.

Costa Mesa seniors Andrew Melcer and William Lefebvre were second-team Division III honorees.

Estancia seniors Dallas Kopp and Scott Markley were third-team performers in Division III.

Newport Harbor senior libero Sean Grubbs was a third-team pick in Division I.

Slaughter led the Sea Kings (27-6) to a share of the Pacific Coast League title and their second consecutive CIF Division II championship match. The lost the five-game final to Valencia of Valencia.

The UC Santa Barbara-bound Slaughter had 17 kills and six blocks in CdM’s five-game victory at Santa Barbara High in the CIF Division II semifinals.

It took a little while for Slaughter to reach peak form this season. He missed the first week of season because he helped lead the CdM boys’ basketball team to the CIF playoffs.

Soon after joining his volleyball teammates, he suffered an abdominal strain that sidelined him for 2 1/2 weeks. But once the 6-foot-6 Slaughter recovered and hit his stride, he dominated at the net in almost every match he played and made the Sea Kings nearly unstoppable.

His play earned him Most Valuable Player honors at the Orange County All-Star match.

Bagwell, a third-team All-CIF pick last year, was able to take over games with his jump-serving and hitting. He had 12 aces in one match and 10 in another and averaged double-digit kills.

Bagwell led the Mustangs (23-6) to the CIF Division III championship match, where they fell to No. 1-seeded Santa Monica in four games.

Grubbs, a senior defensive specialist, helped lead Newport Harbor (23-10) to victory at the Orange County Championships.

He also helped Coach Dan Glenn’s Sailors finish second in the Sea View League.

Bannon, a third-team All-CIF choice last year, was the experienced setter a young CdM team needed.

Smith, an effective outside hitter, was one of Bannon’s favorite targets.

Ellis showed moments of brilliance as a 6-6 middle blocker.

Costa Mesa’s Melcer (mononucleosis) and Lefebvre (broken finger) both missed part of the season, but came back in time to make a big impact during the Mustangs’ unprecedented playoff run.

Melcer triggered the offense at setter and Lefebvre played opposite.

Kopp, a middle blocker, and Markley, an outside hitter, led Estancia to a second-place finish in the Golden West League and a first-round Division III playoff victory.