By Elizabeth Goldman
Sports Editor
Mira Costa boys volleyball defeated Newport Harbor High School 3-1 in the CIF Southern Section Championship game on Friday, June 4.
The Mustangs started the game out strong, winning their first set 25-15. This set started extremely close, but Costa slowly pulled farther and farther ahead. This was followed by a loss in the second set, but two wins with the third and fourth sets.
“I thought it was a great game; we stayed really consistent except for the second set, [but] even then we still played really well,” senior middle Jim Garrison said. “I was nervous going into the game since we had lost to them previously so beating them was amazing.”
The second set brought lots of back and forth, with Newport winning 25-23 after a tie at 23-23. Although Costa was able to catch up towards the end, Newport was still able to pull through and win.
“They got off to an early lead and I think we were still playing good volleyball, but we just couldn’t pull it off,” senior libero Austin Stuard said. “We should’ve won but things happen, and things didn’t go our way, so we just had to worry about the next set.”
The Mustangs won the third set 25-13, taking an early lead and maintaining it throughout the rest of the game. After losing the second set, the team was fired up and determined, according to Stuard.
“The third and fourth sets were a great opportunity for us to respond and come back with energy,” senior outside hitter Ben Coordt said. “Our mentality the entire match was to win every point and not stop until the end.”
Costa took an early lead of 8-1 in the fourth and final set, and ended up winning 25-21 after a final kill by Coordt. With this, Mira Costa boys varsity volleyball officially won the CIF Division 1 Southern Section Championship.
“It is the best feeling in the world,” said senior middle blocker Brennan Morgan. “Watching Ben get the last kill to win the game gave me chills because I know how hard he has worked all of his life for this moment. He deserved this win more than anybody I know.”
The Mustangs have a record of 13-2, their only losses being to Newport and Loyola in the playoffs. They will now move onto CIF regionals.
“Given the circumstances, I think we made the best of what we were given,” Morgan said. “Even though we had some hiccups, we were able to stay together as a team and work to eventually win a CIF championship.”
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