By Rebecca Hext
Staff Writer
Coming off of a CIF Championship last season, and a title of second in the nation, the Mira Costa boys varsity volleyball team has a lot to live up to this year.
With a much younger set of athletes this season, consisting of many more juniors than in the previous year, the boys’ lack of experience was a worry to spectators. However, starting off the season with a bay league record of 3-0-0, the boys are showing that Costa’s volleyball program is still a force to be reckoned with.
“Even though we lost a lot of great players last year, like we still have great players to fill those gaps,” senior Casey White said. “We are still a deep team and plan on going just as far as we did last season.”
Last year, the boys team placed first in Bay League and beat out local rivals, Loyola High School to win the CIF title. In addition, they moved on to become the Division II Southern Section Champions in a close battle against Oak Park High School. Only four of the boys who played frequently on last years team are on the team this season.
“Seniors Riley Mallon, Casey White, Scott Stephanoff and I all got play time last year and experience in those stressful game situations,” senior Grant Chalmers said. “All of the seniors are stepping up this year to help out the less experienced juniors and we are really coming together as a team.”
The boys started out this year’s season strong, winning against Newport High School in three matches at their first pre-season game. Mallon led the team with 18 kills and White followed with 11 for himself. Junior Connor Inlow also helped out with six kills, scoring the most points for an underclassman.
“It’s an honor to be a junior playing on this team full of such great senior players and leaders,” Inlow said. “They make me better each and every practice and I’m excited to improve my game.”
The boys followed the Newport Harbor defeat with a trip to compete in the Best of the West Tournament. However, the boys were not as successful there. They lost in the semi-finals to San Clemente High School, who won the tournament.
Although San Clemente is not in Bay League, the boys will see them again in tournaments, and potentially in CIF.
“San Clemente has a great team this year,” Mallon said. “Hopefully we will get a chance to play them again this season.”
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