When the boys volleyball teams from Mira Costa and Redondo play, the match usually determines first place in the Bay League but Palos Verdes has upset the apple cart this season.
Palos Verdes (16-4, 4-0) sits atop the Bay League after beating Mira Costa for the first time in history with a five-set win to open league action on Mar. 24 and defeating visiting Redondo Tuesday afternoon.
Brad Maricle has a match-high 23 kills in the Sea King’s 25-22, 23-25, 25-17, 25-22.victory over the Sea Hawks who were led by Lucas Lossone (10 kills) and Logan Glave (seven kills, two blocks).
The result leaves Mira Costa and Redondo battling for sole possession of second place when the Mustangs host the Sea Hawks in the first of two league meetings Thursday at 7 p.m.
Mira Costa looks to avenge its earlier loss hosting Palos Verdes Tuesday at 3:15 p.m.
Redondo (14-7) hopes a win against its rival will move the team into the CIF-SS Division 1 top ten, a place they are familiar of being in. Palos Verdes is ranked No. 3 behind Newport Harbor and Loyola while Mira Costa (12-3) sits at No. 5.
“Mira Costa is always one of the top teams in CIF. They run a great program and are always tough to beat,” Redondo coach Duncan avery said. “At any level, the team that serves and passes best will have the best opportunity to win.
“Lossone, a 6-foot-7 opposite hitter who will be playing at USC next year, has been playing very well for us and our senior setter Sean-Michael Cramer and junior outside hitter Logan Glave are always on top of their game.”
Mira Costa expects a tough match from Redondo which doesn’t want to fall two games back in the Bay League race.
”It’s always a big match for both teams and I expect them to come out and play well against us, so we need to be focused and ready to play well ourselves,” Mira Costa coach Sean Shoptaw said. “We’ve gotten significant contributions from Roy McFarland, Jackson Wedbush, Sam Jones and Rob Mullahey. Roy and Jackson carry a heavy load and have been a huge key to our success. Rob has a great understanding of the game and his skill allows us to push tempo and play fast. Sam’s passing, defense and serving are critical for the style we need to play to be successful.”
Enjoying its spring break with a trip to Hawaii, Mira Costa’s boys volleyball team had plenty of time during its trip back to the mainland to think about how the Mustangs finished competition in the 6th annual Clash of the Titans held at Honolulu’s Punahou High School.
Leading two sets to one, Mira Costa could not hold off the host school as the Buffanblu scored 21 points off of blocks to win the finale of the event 24-26, 25-23, 21-25, 25-14, 15-8 on Saturday.
Mira Costa was led by Wedbush who recorded a match-high 18 kills. McFarland added 16 kills and Jones had a match-high 15 digs in the loss
Mira Costa opened competition with an impressive 23-25, 25-14, 17-25, 25-22, 15-12 win over Corona del Mar, ranked No. 6 in CIF-SS Division 1.
The Mustangs defeated Kamehameha-Hawaii 25-22, 17-25, 25-19, 25-17 on Friday before facing Punahou, who was swept by Corona del Mar in its second match of the event.
“Overall the trip to Hawaii was successful,” Shoptaw said. “We played three very good teams including Corona Del Mar which was a significant win as we get ready for two important league matches. We continue to improve in some critical areas, but still have a lot of room to grow.”
Mira Costa has played five teams MaxPreps has ranked among the top 15 teams in California with its previous two losses coming to Palos Verdes and Huntington Beach, previously the No. 1 in the nation. Huntington Beach has fallen to No. 4 in CIF-SS Division 1 after having its national-record winning streak of 121 consecutive match victories snapped by Newport Harbor last week.
On Mar. 18, the Mustangs swept second-ranked Loyola in front of a large crowd at Loyola Marymount University.
