By Mira Costa standards, the Mustang’s performance against Oak Park in the CIF Southern California Regional Championship held at Irvine Valley College on Saturday was sub-par. Yet the talented Mira Costa squad had enough left in the tank to rebound from an opening set loss, overcome numerous service errors and stave off four match points to win its second Southern California Division 2 title in three years.
It was Mira Costa’s second dramatic win in a championship match in a week after the Mustangs defeated rival Loyola in five sets to win the CIF Southern Section Division 1 title the previous Saturday.
After sweeping Cathedral and L.A. Jordan in easy fashion to reach the finals, Mira Costa came out sluggish against a vastly improved Oak Park team that the Mustangs had defeated 25-17, 27-25 in the fifth-place match at the Best of the West tournament in early March.
Mira Costa never led in a 24-26 opening-set loss but came back to record 25-16, 25-19 wins in the next two sets. Oak Park remained in the hunt for the title with a 26-24 victory sending the contest to a fifth set to 15 points.
In a see-saw battle, Mira Costa emerged victorious when junior Scott Stephanoff stepped up with critical plays. A key block pulled Mira Costa to a 14-13 and a service ace by Stephanoff tied the score at 14.
“I was a little nervous before that serve,” Stephanoff admitted. “But it fell in for us.”
Riley Mallon and Christopher Orenic had kills on match points to keep Mira Costa in the match and after Oak Park battled back from two match points, Stephanoff recorded two consecutive kills to give him 12 for the match and the Mustangs another championship plaque.
“Our team played very well at the end,” Stephanoff said. “I’m so happy that we won. We’ve come a long way for this and I’m glad we ended it like this right here. I wish we could have swept them but they came out strong. They’ve improved a lot since the first time we played them.”
Mira Costa setter Jackson Carr said he was disappointed with the way his team played but elated to have finished the season with a 19-match winning streak that improved the Mustang’s record to 35-4.
“Winning 19 in a row is really something and we needed all 19,” said Carr who recorded 70 assists in the match. “We were a little sloppy, though, and didn’t play the way we normally play. Oak Park came out with a lot of energy and we came out flat, almost expecting them to give it (the championship) to us. It’s good to be able to snap out of it just enough to pull it out. Oak Park is very much improved. They beat Corona Del Mar and went down to Westview (San Diego) and swept them so they had a lot of momentum coming in and they kept it going all night.”
Mira Costa head coach Mike Ninnis was all smiles after being presented the championship plaque.
“That was a nail biter,” Ninnis said. “At the beginning of the year, we felt that this was a team that would get better and better as the season went on. We kind of took a step backward today and didn’t come in with the intensity that we needed to. It’s hard to do after such a big win last Saturday night.
“We didn’t pass that well, we had some hitting errors early on and a number of service errors that let them (Oak Park) stick around and they took advantage of it. We gave them hope and they grabbed it and ran with it.”
Orenic led the Mustang attack with 34 kills and added seven digs on defense. After missing most of the season recovering from a broken wrist, Orenic’s return to the lineup in late April seemed to spark Mira Costa in its championship run.
“He brings so much to the court,” Stephanoff said. “His offense is amazing.”
Middle blocker Karl Acres had a strong performance at the net, recording 13 kills and four blocks, outside hitter Kevin Inlow had 11 kills, Keith Waddell added eight kills and libero Brooks Varni recorded 21 digs for the Mustangs.
“That match was so nerve racking,” Inlow said. “We could have probably won it in three if we had focused. We just didn’t play very well but we got it done.”
Although its season on the court is complete, Mira Costa is still hoping for another title – the mythical national championship.
The Mustangs entered the Southern California Regional Championship ranked No. 2 in the nation in the Powerade Fab 50 rankings. Mira Costa’s win over previously top-ranked Loyola moved the Mustangs up one spot and unbeaten Wheaton Warrenville South (36-0) of Wheaton, Ill. into the No. 1 position.
Playing a much more difficult schedule, Mira Costa has good cause to claim it is the best high school team in the country. The Mustangs have played 18 matches against teams in the latest top-50 poll including nine against top-10 teams. Wheaton has played only six matches against top-50 teams with two wins against No. 10 Glenbrook North (Northbrook, Ill.).
Southern California teams make up half of the top-20 teams with six in the top 10 while four Illinois teams are ranked in the top 20 and two among the top 10.
The Illinois state finals will be played next weekend.
Ninnis has strong feelings when it comes to the challenging schedule his team faces each season.
“There is absolutely no comparison between us and the team in Illinois,” Ninnis exclaimed. “Quite honestly, if you really want to be considered for the number one team in the nation, you have to come out to California and play the best teams in the nation. Punahou (Hawaii) does that, coming over here every other year to play in the Best of the West tournament. In the last couple of weeks we’ve played Dana Hills, Esperanza, Loyola and Oak Park, which is firing on all cylinders. We play a tough competition out here. We went to Hawaii and faced Punahou and Hawaii Baptist and it’s a playoff atmosphere there.”
The Mustangs feel they have shown why they should be considered for the national title.
“Although it’s not my decision, I think we’ve proven we should be ranked number one,” Orenic said. “The people who determine the rankings see a lot more matches than I do so I’ll have to trust their judgment.”
“It would be nice if they used the RPI (Rating Percentage Index) like they do in the NCAA,” Inlow added. “We’ll see what happens after today but it’s out of our hands now.”
Despite being a senior-laden team, Stephanoff feels the Mustangs will be in the hunt for back-to-back title next season. As the only underclassman in the starting lineup, Stephanoff will be looked upon as a team leader.
“In some ways there will be pressure on me, but I think our team next year will be really strong,” said Stephanoff who will join juniors Ryan Kaseff (6’5” middle blocker), Riley Mallon (6’3” outside hitter) and Casey White (6’4” outside hitter) as varsity returnees.
Carr said he will use the final two days of the Memorial Day weekend to relax and reflect on the Mustang’s championship season before going back to work.
“Club ball starts Tuesday,” said Carr, who has committed to George Mason University.
Replays of all three Southern California Regional Championship matches can be seen at www.kbcsports.com.
