Mira Costa lost its first match of the season in the semifinals of the Santa Barbara Karch Kiraly Tournament of Champions but while the loss was a disappointment, it was not devastating.
Head Coach Mike Ninnis’ squad rebounded from the 25-19, 18-25, 25-17, 20-15, 15-11 upset loss to Newport Harbor to sweep a tough Bellarmine Prep (San Jose) team 25-15, 25-19, 25-20 to finish third in the prestigious tournament.
“We’ve played a tough schedule,” Ninnis said. “Santa Barbara is a tremendous tournament and two of the top teams from the Best of the West Tournament in Poway – Rancho Santa Margarita and Bellarmine –played along with Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor. There were a lot of tough teams playing up there.”
Fortunately for Mira Costa (20-1), its dream of capturing a national championship remains alive as the other top-three ranked teams in the nation compete with the Mustangs in CIF Southern Section Division 1. If Mira Costa can run the table and win the CIF title, it would likely result in the school’s first boys volleyball national championship since 2001.
Mira Costa began the tournament Friday with a 25-22, 25-10, 25-18 win over Buena and a come from behind victory defeating Valencia, 27-29, 25-16, 25-17, 25-19.
D.J. White led the Mustangs with 24 kills for the day while setter Kameron Bain spread his passes around, garnering 72 assists. Weston Carico had 18 kills, Zack Proctor added 16 kills, Keith Waddell had 14 kills and Karl Acres recorded 13 kills and nine blocks in the two wins.
In the semifinal and third-place matches on Saturday, White recorded 35 kills and 10 digs, Michael Debevec added 19 kills and 12 blocks, Proctor had 13 kills and six digs and Bain contributed 88 assists.
Newport Harbor avenged a 25-21, 25-13, 25-20 loss to Mira Costa in an earlier non-league match. Newport Harbor, who entered the tournament ranked No. 7 in CIF Southern Section Division 1 and 9th in the nation, lost its third match of the season to Santa Margarita, being swept in the Santa Barbara tournament final 25-19, 25-20, 25-18 by the division’s and nation’s second-ranked team. The win moved Santa Margarita into the top spot in the CIF Division 1 poll, replacing Mira Costa who fell into second. Loyola remains in the third slot while Newport Harbor jumped from 7th to 4th.
Mira Costa traveled to Santa Barbara one day after sweeping visiting Redondo in a match to determine the front runner in the Bay League. The loss dropped the Sea Hawks one spot into the No. 6 slot in the Division 1 poll.
Despite missing two starters, the Mustangs never trailed in the match, defeating their rival 25-21, 25-15, 25-20 to put themselves in the driver’s seat for their initial goal of a Bay League title.
After a come-from-behind victory over Loyola (ranked No. 3 in both the CIF Southern Section Division 1 and ESPN Rise Fab 50 polls), Mira Costa spent spring break in Hawaii where the Mustang swept Iolani (No. 21 in the nation) and Punahoe, the nation’s fifth-ranked team at the time.
Redondo (18-5), meanwhile, hadn’t played a competitive match since March 31 and it showed. The Sea Hawks fell behind 7-0 in the first match before shaking the cobwebs loose and pulling to within 21-19 before the Mustangs put the game away.
“We’ve had that in the past where we’ve come back from spring break and been a little rusty, so that might have played into the outcome,” Mira Costa head coach Mike Ninnis said. “When we’re playing in system I know how strong we can be. I think our passing was a little sharper tonight and it all begins with the passing. It was nice to see Zack Proctor and Weston Carico come in and have nice matches.”
Proctor and Carico stepped up with the absence of starters Christopher Orenic (twisted ankle) and Jake Miller (slight leg fracture). Proctor recorded seven kills and nine digs and Carico had six kills and three blocks to help the Mustangs.
White led Mira Costa with 12 kills and 10 digs, Bain had 27 assists and four blocks, Acres added four blocks and libero Tony Ensbury contributed six digs.
“I was little surprised that we swept them considering we had two of our starters out, but Redondo didn’t play that well tonight,” Mira Costa outside hitter Keith Waddell said. “I’m sure it will be a different match when we play them at their place (May 3).”
Redondo was led by Riley Theunissen’s 11 kills and eight digs. Ryan Olson added 10 kills and eight digs, Trevor Butler had eight kills, Ryan Mather had six kills, five blocks and three digs and libero Kevin Fender recorded 13 digs.
The Sea Hawks continue Bay League action with a 4:15 p.m. road match at West Thursday and a home contest versus Palos Verdes Tuesday a 6 p.m.
Redondo swept Peninsula 25-18, 25-11, 25-20 Tuesday. Mather had 10 kills and six blocks and Andy Price recorded 39 assists to keep the Sea Hawks in the Bay League race.
Mira Costa won its 20th match of the season Tuesday with a 25-18, 25-19, 25-23 victory over Palos Verdes. The Mustangs will take on visiting Peninsula Thursday before holding its annual Alumni Game at 7 p.m. Friday.
Having to replace three All-CIF players from last year’s squad, Ninnis said he is not so much surprised as he is pleased to have his team sitting with only one defeat mid-way through the season.
“It’s a group that loves playing volleyball and they’re enthusiastic and used to winning,” Ninnis said. “We lacked some varsity experience coming into the season and have certainly attained that during our first 19 games of the season.” ER
