By Rebecca Hext
Staff Writer
The Mira Costa boys volleyball team squared off against Harvard Westlake High School in the second round of CIF last Thursday, May 9. The boys were able to secure a win in three games, and will advance to the next round of CIF.
In the first game Costa came out strong and quickly took the lead over Harvard Westlake. Senior captain Casey White furthered the lead with three kills in a row, bringing the score to 14-6. Costa won the game point with a missed serve by Harvard Westlake, ending the game with a score of 25-14.
“We came out and took control of the court,” White said. “We didn’t want them to get any momentum from an early win that would transfer into the next one.”
Harvard Westlake came back with fire in the second match. They gained a lead at 14-13, and rattled the Costa boys with four consecutive and successful blocks. The game was evenly battled out until the very end when Costa was able to pull away and win the game with a final score of 25-22.
“It took a lot for us to win that one,” senior captain Riley Mallon said. “We let them get in our heads when we really just needed to be focusing on our own game, but luckily it worked out in the end.”
The Costa boys brought back the intensity in the third game and led the entire game. Junior Connor Inlow had an ace serve, three kills, and a block, which helped the boys keep the lead. Harvard Westlake tried to stay in the game, but in the end Costa won with a final score of 25-18, winning the game and match.
“We pulled out all the stops in that last game,” Inlow said. “We communicated well which led to great plays, easily executed points, and eventually the win.”
The boys have advanced to the semi finals of CIF which will take place away on Saturday, May 11 against St. John Bosco High School.
“Obviously our goal is to make it to the finals and win the whole thing for the second year in a row,” senior Grant Chalmers said. “But to get there we need to take it one game at a time, and that’s what we plan on doing.”
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