Cif Division V Boys’ Volleyball Semifinals:

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — The members of the Flintridge Prep boys’ volleyball team arrived at the doorstep of the first title match in the program’s history.

An hour later, they were swept off the court.

Facing an experienced and talented team, fourth-seeded Flintridge Prep saw its dreams of advancing to a championship shattered Wednesday night, as top-seeded St. Margaret’s picked up a 25-15, 25-13, 25-23 victory in a CIF Southern Section Division V semifinal match.

“I told [our players] that I didn’t know if it was a little bit of St. Margaret’s size or the long bus ride down here,” said Flintridge Prep Coach Sean Beattie, whose team finished second in the Prep League this season before moving on to the semifinals for the second time in three seasons. “It wasn’t so much them as us, because we made 10 unforced errors in the first game alone.

“We did stuff that we hadn’t done all year long, and against a good team, like St. Margaret’s, you can’t give them points.”

St. Margaret’s (17-3) advanced to the championship match against either Salesian or Sage Hill on Saturday at Cypress College. Flintridge Prep (20-6) will go home pondering what it could have done better following playoff victories against California Academy of Math and Science, Thousand Oaks Hillcrest Christian and Arrowhead Christian Academy.

The Tartans, who won the Academy League crown, appeared fresh and prepared in turning back Flintridge Prep in front of a partisan, capacity crowd at St. Margaret’s High.

The Rebels didn’t have many answers against the Tartans, who were in complete control in the first two games before Flintridge Prep made things interesting in the finale.

“We have a lot of guys who are capable of stepping up at any moment,” said St. Margaret’s co-Coach Jeremy Dailey, who received a match-best 37 assists from setter Cory Kiraly. “We have guys who can make the play when it’s needed to be made.

“We also have guys who can step it up from the service line. I’m surprised by the first two scores, because I knew they have a good team. We have good ball control and that makes a big difference.”

In the first game, the Tartans rattled off six points in a row to build a 16-8 lead. St. Margaret’s never let the Rebels, who had their four-match winning streak snapped, get any closer.