No matter what week of the season, when the boys volleyball teams from Mira Costa and Loyola square off a playoff atmosphere fills the gym and Friday’s non-league match played at Loyola Marymount University between the rivals was no exception.
Unable to capitalize on a 24-22 lead in the first set, Mira Costa dropped the first two sets 24-26, 18-25 and it appeared that Loyola, ranked second in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 poll, would make quick work in beating third-ranked Mira Costa.
But Mira Costa had other ideas, preventing the sweep while leading throughout the third set for a resounding 25-16 win. The Mustangs held off the Cubs 25-22 to capture the fourth set and set up a do-or-die final set to 15 points.
Loyola players remembered the last time the two teams had played. It was the 2012 Division 1 championship match and Mira Costa had won the first two sets, Loyola the next two and Mira Costa the fifth. The Cubs were hoping for a role reversal but the Mustangs were not to be denied.
Connor Inlow broke a 10-10 tie with three consecutive kills and his tenth kill of the evening set up match point. Inlow also had four blocks in the win.
After Hagen Smith’s shot was wide, Mira Costa players celebrated as if they had won another title.
Scott Stephanoff’s recent return to the starting lineup following a back injury has sparked the Mustangs who improved their season record to 14-2. Loyola dropped to 10-2.
Along with recording six kills, setter Grant Chalmers passed the ball in creating a balanced offense. Stephanoff had a team-high 14 kills, Casey White recorded 10 kills, Ryan Kaseff added nine kills and Riley Mallon had eight kills and two aces.
The Mira Costa-Loyola rivalry runs deeps. Virtually every season the two programs are among the best in the nation and many players on both sides are teammates on the same club teams. Most years, the Loyola roster includes a number of players who live in Beach Cities, particularly Manhattan Beach.
Last season, Mira Costa lost to Loyola 2-1 in the Best of the West tournament and 3-1 in its annual non-league contest before defeating the Cubs 3-2 in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship match.
The Loyola match was the second huge match for Mira Costa in two days. The Mustangs rebounded from a second-set loss to defeat Palos Verdes 25-19, 17-25, 30-28, 25-19 in a critical Bay League match. The win put Mira Costa in the driver’s seat for a league title with a 4-0 record.
Palos Verdes entered the match ranked No. 4 in Division 1 and dropped to 19-2 and 2-1 in league play.
Mallon led Mira Costa with 15 kills; Stephanoff added 14 kills and two blocks and White recorded nine kills and four blocks in the win.
Mira Costa hosts Peninsula in a Bay League match Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. before competing in the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions Friday and Saturday.
Ranked ninth in Division 1, Redondo (14-7, 2-2) defeated Peninsula 28-26, 30-28, 22-25, 25-14 Thursday to finish the first round of Bay League action. Louis Richard recorded 19 kills; Dominic Cangialosi added 10 kills and Ryan Baker had eight kills for the Sea Hawks.
Coach Duncan Avery’s Redondo squad continues league play Tuesday when the Sea Hawks travel to West before hosting Palos Verdes Thursday in a critical match that will have playoff implications. Both matches are set for 4:30 p.m.
The Sea Hawks host rival Mira Costa Thursday, April 25 then will hold their Varsity Classic Tournament on Friday and Saturday, April 26-27.
