Costa, Redondo won’t back down
They spent two days battling elite teams from California and Hawaii but the boys volleyball teams from Mira Costa and Redondo can’t seem to get enough. Both schools will take on top-ten ranked teams this week as they prepare for the opening of Bay League action in two weeks.
Evan Hein and the Mira Costa Mustangs retained their No. 2 ranking in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 poll after a third-place finish in the Best of the West tournament in Poway. Photo
In a battle of the top teams in CIF Division 1, No. 2 Mira Costa takes on rival and top-ranked Loyola tomorrow before traveling to No. 7 Orange Lutheran for a 6 p.m. match Tuesday.
Redondo hosts Bishop Montgomery (No. 2 in Division 4) tomorrow at 6:15 p.m. and Thousand Oaks (No. 4 in Division 2) Monday in a 5:45 p.m. match.
Mira Costa and Redondo competed in the Best of the West tournament in Poway last weekend and emerged with a better idea of where each team stands in the hunt for a CIF title.
The Mustangs entered the tournament as defending champions but fell to Punahou, a perennial power from Hawaii, 24-26, 26-24, 17-15. Mira Costa finished tied for 3rd with Santa Margarita (No. 5, Div. 1) while Punahou defeated Loyola 19-25, 26-24, 15-12 for the Gold Division crown. Palos Verdes placed 15th in the Gold Division
Eric Mochalski and Jace Olson represented Mira Costa on the all-tournament team. The Mustangs swept through pool play with wins over Mission Viejo, Cathedral Catholic and Bellarmine. They advanced to beat St. John Bosco 25-18, 25-20 and host Poway 25-20, 26-24 before facing Punahou.
Redondo finished 2nd in the Bronze Division, rebounding from two losses in pool play. After losing to Poway in the tournament opener, the Sea Hawks beat St. Francis, and then fell to Chico.
Once in the Bronze Division, Redondo defeated Deer Valley, 25-22, 25-19 and Valencia 25-22, 25-22 before losing to Harvard-Westlake 12-25, 25-22, 15-13 in the championship match. ER