It appeared Mira Costa’s girls were going to celebrate more than Senior Night after jumping out to a 2-0 lead over rival Redondo in front of a standing-room only crowd Tuesday.
But Redondo had other plans as the Sea Hawks fought back to win the Bay League girls volleyball title outright with an electrifying 18-25, 23-25, 25-11, 25-21, 25-21 win.
The rivalry match pitted CIF Southern Section Division 1AA powers and friends against each other. Redondo entered the match ranked No. 1 in the division while Mira Costa held the No. 5 spot.
Mira Costa was riding high after the Mustangs captured the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions title last weekend with wins over Torrey Pines and the nation’s top-ranked team Archbishop Mitty of San Jose.
Wearing their tournament-champion shirts, Coach Hayley Lawson-Blanchard’s players let Redondo know they could play with anyone and was a different looking team than the one that was defeated by the Sea Hawks 3-1 on Oct. 16.
“We played 20 times better than we did three weeks ago,” Lawson-Blanchard said. “I told the girls that our ultimate goal is winning CIF and this is something that will help us do that. Well be on the opposite side of the playoff bracket and we expect to see Redondo again in the finals.”
Redondo won its own tournament last weekend and was seeking its third straight Bay League title.
“It was a heck of a battle and a great primer for both teams going into the playoffs,” Redondo head coach Tommy Chaffins said. “They were in a better rhythm than we were and I thought we were a little tight at first. We weren’t really tested in our tournament until we faced Marymount and that was only in three sets. The playoff atmosphere was phenomenal. I am so proud of how our kids fought.
I’ve been blessed to be a lot of these great matches with Costa, but I don’t think we’ve gone five in them. I remember in 2002 with sideout scoring, my second year (as head coach), that we went five. Sydney Donohue lit us up. There’s something about a fifth set.”
Mira Costa’s defense answered Redondo’s high-powered offense in the first two sets and after Redondo held a 23-20 lead in the second set, scored the final five points that included two blocks by Ashley Anselmo.
“I told the team after the second set that this is going to require an unbelievable mental fortitude,” Chaffins said. “But I believe if we serve the right targets and stay faithful to one another we could pull it out.”
Redondo regrouped and never trailed during the third set. After Mira Costa closed the gap at 12-10, a kill by Abril Bustamante put the ball in the hands of Hayes Honea who served 11 straight points as the Sea Hawks pulled away.
“I knew we had to get something going and our coach switched up the area he wanted us to serve,” Honea said. “When we get on a run, it’s so much easier to keep going.”
“Winning this match and the Bay League title is awesome, especially because it my senior year,” Honea said. “We knew Costa would be tough. Just to come back like that was amazing. We’re going to face some tough teams we haven’t seen before so this is a great lead-in going into the playoffs by preparing us for the mental toughness we need to have.”
Megan Rice capped off the set with one of her 16 kills on the night. She also served four aces in the match.
“We knew we had to settle down and focus and press through the adversity,” Rice said. “We stayed positive and played as a team. We play the best when were fast and loose and I think we showed our character tonight.
“This type of win after being in a tough spot is what we needed. We’ll have to do that later on so it was good to get the experience before the playoffs.”
The fourth set was a see-saw battle before Redondo went on a 7-0 run after trailing 17-13. Amanda Tsao had three aces to help give the Sea Hawks a 20-17 lead.
“Amanda’s serving was the turning point for us in the fourth set,” Chaffins said.
Mira Costa pulled to within two at 23-21 but a dunk by Norene Iosia and a kill by Kristen Hamlin sent the match to a fifth set.
Mira Costa held an 11-10 lead in the fifth set before Rice’s block tied the game. Redondo scored three straight points and, after an Erin Sagisi block gave Mira Costa hope trailing 14-12, Rice’s final kill of the night punctuated the Sea Hawks comeback.
“Winning this match and the Bay League title is awesome, especially because it my senior year,” Honea said. “We knew Costa would be tough. Just to come back like that was amazing. We’re going to face some tough teams we haven’t seen before so this is a great lead-in going into the playoffs by preparing us for the mental toughness we need to have.”
Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani recorded 16 kills, Hamlin had 10 kills and four blocks and Bustamante finished with nine kills for Redondo.
Skylar Caputo and Katie Rethmeyer each had 10 kills to lead Mira Costa. Alexa Underwood posted eight kills and Anselmo added five blocks.
Lawson-Blanchard said her team was taking the loss hard but expects them to bounce back for the post season.
“These are some of their best friends they’ve grown up with across the net so it will take some time to get over,” Lawson-Blanchard said. “But the loss will add fire for them to play harder next time. Balls just wouldn’t drop. Redondo played tremendous defense and the way they played tonight – they were better than Torrey Pines and Mitty – I don’t feel there’s another team that we can’t beat.”
Pairings for the playoffs will be announced Friday and available at cifss.org. Wild-card matches take place Saturday with first-round contests being played on Tuesday.
