Girls beach volleyball places third in Junior Beach Volleyball League tournament

Junior Lily Snyder sets the ball to a teammate in a volleyball match on Sept. 11.

Makena Nakaji

Staff Writer

Mira Costa’s girls beach volleyball team competed against in the Junior Beach Volleyball League (JBVL) tournament at Ocean Park Santa Monica on Feb. 5.

Costa had six teams entered, and senior Sunny Villapando and junior Piper Monk-Heidrich. Villapando and Monk-Heidrich placed third out of 100 teams.

Link: Click to see Mira Costa’s girls beach volleyball team’s website.

“Being that Piper and I don’t play together very often I thought we did a great job adapting to each other’s style,” Villapando said. “As well as really picking each other up and working as a team rather than individuals.”

Link: Click to see Mira Costa’s girls beach volleyball team’s Instagram that posts updates of up to date events the team will compete in.

Villapando said the Mustangs are working on their serve receive as well as siding out on the first ball for their next tournament. The team will next play in the Mira Costa Pairs tournament on Feb. 11 at Manhattan Beach.

“Our strategy has been focused primarily on tricking the hitter by constantly changing our blocking patterns as well as utilizing our serves as a weapon versus a free point,” Villapando said.