By Katie von Behren
Staff Writer
With the pressure to defeat their longtime rivals, the Mira Costa High School boys volleyball team traveled Loyola Marymount University on Friday to face Loyola High School.
The Mustangs fell to the Cubs in three sets, with scores of 25-18, 25-22 and 25-19. Their new record now stands at 1-1 in Bay League and 9-2 overall.
“We were prepared from the start for a tough match knowing the strength of the Cubs from previous years,” coach Sean Shoptaw said. “It was a constant battle on the court and the guys never let up the entire game, which is all I can ask as a coach.”
From the beginning, it was a back and forth game, with few lasting rallies. Costa had lead at the beginning of the set, with a block from junior outside hitter Blake Markland. It was a point-by-point match until the Cubs held possession of the ball for four consecutive serves. Senior opposite hitter Connor Inlow spiked the ball to end the streak 19-16, Loyola.
“Loyola has always been a big rival so going into this match we wanted to walk away with the win,” Inlow said. “We saw from the start that it was not going to be easy but we played our best volleyball and just could not hold them in the end.”
Loyola followed with another rally until junior setter Trevor Liu set the ball and the Mustangs regained possession. In an attempt to regain the lead, sophomore outside hitter Roy McFarland served for Costa followed by a block from junior opposite hitter Carter Kimble to give the Mustangs their final point of the set. Loyola finished on top, winning the first set 25-18.
“Our team was determined not to give up no matter what the score was,” McFarland said. “We were ready to rally in the end and come back and win, but they had some good hits that stopped us from winning.”
The second set started the same as the first with the lead only shifting by one or two points until the Cubs served out of bounds to give the Mustangs possession. Senior setter Matt Jones served to tie up the game, 20-20. On his next serve, Kimble blocked against Loyola putting the Mustangs in the lead, 21-20, to then lose the ball back to the Cubs the score tied again 21-21.
After three consecutive serves Loyola hit out of bounds to hand the ball over to the Mustangs the score, 23-22. Senior setter Billy Kopenhefer served for the Mustangs but a kill out of bounds ended the second, 25-22, in Loyola’s favor.
“Going into the third set, we had not lost hope but knew we needed to focus on our technique for a chance at a come back,” Shoptaw said. “I knew the boys were capable of playing great volleyball and this was the time to come out and prove it.”
The third set came with pressure on the Mustangs in order to win the match. Loyola gained possession early in the set and served consecutively for six points, the Cubs lead, 9-3. Costa served out to return the ball and Loyola gained three more points when Markland had a kill for the Mustangs making the score, 12-5.
“Even though it was just one point, it was important to hold Loyola as long as we could,” Markland said. “Their offense is very good and they had some good steaks to set us back in the game, but we tried not to give up.”
Costa began an offensive streak when McFarland blocked a Loyola hit to regain possession for the Mustangs. He then continued to serve and the Mustangs gained four more points, the score 17-11, Cubs. The Mustangs fell to the Cubs in the end. 25-19.
“It would have been a great game to win but the boys truly put up a fight to be proud of,” Shoptaw said. “We are going to focus on improving and will come back stronger next year.”
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