Mira Costa’s boys volleyball team may have the Bay League title wrapped up, but Tuesday’s regular season finale against Palos Verdes will have strong playoff implications with both teams jockeying for position when the CIF playoffs begin next week. Mira Costa will be seeking its second straight and eighth CIF championship in its storied history.
Tuesday’s 3:15 p.m. match at Palos Verdes will be the second in three days between the league rivals after Mira Costa knocked of Palos Verdes 25-22, 25-19 Saturday to win its second consecutive championship of the Redondo Varsity Classic and second straight tournament this season. The Mustangs captured the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions the previous weekend.
Scott Stephanoff had a team-high eight kills for Mira Costa, Casey White had four kills and three aces, Riley Mallon added four kills and an ace, Grant Chalmers posted four kills, 26 assists and one ace and Ryan Kaseff recorded four kills in the win.
Mallon was named tournament MVP with teammates Dillon Shambaugh and Stephanoff being named to the all-tournament team.
Not only did Mira Costa (27-2, 7-0), which is ranked No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section Division poll behind San Clemente, defeat No. 4 Palos Verdes, it also beat No. 3 Loyola for the second straight time this season with a 26-24, 25-21 win in the semifinals.
The Mustangs began the tournament Friday with pool-play wins over La Jolla, Foothill and Torrance. After a win over South Torrance on Saturday, Mira Costa knocked off Westlake (No. 10, Div. 1) in the quarterfinals before facing Loyola.
Palos Verdes (28-4, 5-2) reached the championship match after sweeping Redondo in the quarterfinals and 2012 runner-up Otay Ranch (Chula Vista) in the semifinals.
Redondo (19-10, 3-4) swept Valencia, Oxnard and Oaks Christian in pool play behind the strong performance of Louis Richard who recorded 29 kills, six aces and 10 blocks on Friday.
After beating Mt. Carmel, Redondo lost two hard-fought matches falling to Palos Verdes 25-19, 25-22 and Scripps Ranch 25-23, 26-24. The Sea Hawks entered the tournament ranked No. 7 in Division 1.
Prior to the tournament on Thursday, Redondo hosted Mira Costa in a Bay League match. The scrappy Sea Hawks gave the rival Mustangs a battle but were swept by the Mustangs who secured their 30th league title in the last 33 years.
Mira Costa jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first set and staved off a Redondo comeback to win 25-22.
The Sea Hawks were trailing 14-13 in the second set before the Mustangs went on a 9-1 run and captured the set 25-17.
Redondo had a 22-17 lead in the final set, but Mira Costa rebounded with six consecutive points and finally won the set and match with a 29-27 victory.
Stephanoff and White each had nine kills for Mira Costa which was aided by Chalmers’ 26 assist and Connor Inlow’s four blocks.
Richard led Redondo with 17 kills, Nehemiah Iosia recorded nine kills, Vinny Pizutti had seven kills and Tyler Bird posted 19 digs.
