Slaughter’s switch paid off

Scott Slaughter was not interested in playing volleyball. He was a basketball player and that was all there was to it.

But brothers can be persuasive.

Corona del Mar High boys’ volleyball coach Steve Conti has a habit of mentioning to players on the frosh-soph basketball team that they should consider coming out for volleyball. Conti convinced Slaughter’s older brother, Ted, who in turn persuaded Scott to join with him.

“I had always been a basketball player. Then my freshman year, Coach Conti approached my brother [Ted Slaughter, who was a sophomore at the time], about playing volleyball,” Scott Slaughter said. “I really didn’t want to play. But my brother said if he was going to play, he was going to make me play.”

“He knew nothing about volleyball,” Conti said about the freshman Scott Slaughter. “I just said, ‘Give it a shot and see if you like it.’”

So Slaughter followed his brother into the sport, and together, they helped Corona del Mar capture the CIF Southern Section Division II title last year. Now Slaughter, who has already earned a scholarship to play volleyball for UC Santa Barbara, is trying to win one on his own.

Corona del Mar plays in the CIF Division II championship game Saturday at Cypress College against Valencia High of Valencia in a rematch of last year’s final.

“You never know where a sport is going to take you,” Conti said. “It helped him get into a great college.”

When the 6-foot-6, 185-pound Slaughter has been healthy this season, he has played at a high level. He was dominant at the net in the playoffs for the Sea Kings last week. In Corona del Mar’s second-round sweep over Yucaipa on Tuesday, Slaughter tallied 10 kills and two blocks. In CdM’s quarterfinal sweep over San Marcos on Friday, Slaughter had 13 kills and three blocks. Slaughter, who did not have any hitting errors against San Marcos, gave Santa Barbara volleyball fans a preview of things to come when he led the Sea Kings with 17 kills and six blocks in their semifinal victory over Santa Barbara High on Wednesday night.

“He’s consistent on offense. He’s really effective when he gets up in the air early,” Conti said. “And he’s fast with his arm swing.”

Slaughter missed the first week of volleyball because he helped lead the Corona del Mar boys’ varsity basketball team into the playoffs. By the time he started catching up with his volleyball teammates, he suffered an abdominal strain that sidelined him for 2 1/2 weeks.

“He was just clicking, then he went down with an abdominal strain. It set him back a bit,” Conti said.

Slaughter was quick to regain his form and helped the Sea Kings capture a share of the Pacific Coast League title. He was also instrumental in Corona del Mar’s five-game victory against Newport Harbor, when he tallied 18 kills and five blocks.

“He’s able to elevate his game in big matches,” Conti said. “Newport Harbor is a good example of that. He was outstanding against Newport Harbor.”

Slaughter has developed into a premier player in a short amount of time, thanks to his height, athleticism and work ethic. He gives all the credit to Conti.

“He’s been a huge influence on me,” Slaughter said. “He’s taught me a lot and he’s opened a lot of doors for me. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

The Scott Slaughter File

Hometown: Newport Beach

Height: 6-foot-6

Weight: 185

Sport: Volleyball

Position: Middle blocker

Coach: Steve Conti

Favorite food: Steak and baked potato

Favorite movie: “The Matrix”

Favorite athletic moment: “Winning CIF last year was the all-time greatest.”

Week in review: Slaughter was dominant at the net in the playoffs for the Sea Kings last week. In Corona del Mar’s second-round sweep of Yucaipa on Tuesday, the UC Santa Barbara-bound Slaughter tallied 10 kills and two blocks. In CdM’s quarterfinals sweep of San Marcos on Friday, Slaughter had 13 kills and three blocks.dpt-maleathlete26.IMGGraphicInfoQV1RBH5120060526QV1RBH51No Captiondpt.26-aow-slaughter-BPhotoInfoKT1RBH0L20060526iztyzvncKENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)