Mira Costa’s sweep of rival Redondo Union was a big win in Tuesday’s Bay League opener, but it also showed the Mustangs how much work they have ahead of them.
In a battle of top-ten teams, Mira Costa held off a scrappy Sea Hawk squad for a hard-fought 26-24, 25-23, 25-23 home victory.
Mira Costa (9-1) is ranked third in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 poll followed by Bay League foes Palos Verdes (No. 4) and Redondo (No. 8).
Redondo was ahead 23-22 in the first set, but a controversial call ruling a Redondo player had touched Ryan Kaseff’s long hit tied the score. Mira Costa went on to score the 26-24 win.
The second game was a see-saw battle before Mira Costa pulled ahead 21-17. Yet Redondo never gave up, scoring three straight points to pull within reach before falling short.
The Sea Hawks rebounded from another four-point deficit in the third game before the Mustangs put the match away.
Casey White led Mira Costa with 12 kills. Kaseff recorded 10 kills and three blocks, Blake Markland had six kills, libero Dillon Shambaugh added 12 digs and setter Grant Chalmers posted 42 assists.
Vinny Pizutti and Louis Richard each had 13 kills for Redondo (12-6). Nehemiah Iosia contributed seven kills and libero Tyler Bird recorded 10 digs for the Sea Hawks.
Mira Costa continues Bay League action with a road match at Peninsula Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Redondo hosts West Thursday at 4:30 p.m. before at critical 3:15 p.m. road match at Palos Verdes on Tuesday. The Sea Hawks will hold their annual Alumni Game Friday, April 5 at 7 p.m.
