Mira Costa preparing for big postseason challenge
It has been nearly two full weeks since the last time the Mira Costa girls volleyball team played a match.
Mira Costa ended the regular season with a three-set sweep of Redondo on Oct. 14.
The Mustangs entered the season with a goal of winning the Bay League. They did that and in the process swept rival Redondo.
“It was incredible,” Mira Costa coach Cameron Green said. “It hadn’t been done in so long. I think it was 2011 when Mira Costa won the league outright. To beat them twice was a huge accomplishment.”
Tonight, the Mustangs will finally be back on the court in the quarterfinal round of the CIF Southern
Section Division 1 playoffs.
Fourth-seeded Mira Costa (26-7) will host Village Christian (27-7) at 6 p.m. The winner will face the winner of the MarymountHarvard Westlake match in Saturday’s semifinals.
“We’ve had some time to fine-tune some things,” Green said of the near twoweek break. “Once the season starts rolling, it is difficult to stop and fix things. Now, we’ve been able to add a few new wrinkles in and step up some things on the defensive side of the ball.”
Every new wrinkle could help since the Mustangs are facing a familiar opponent.
Mira Costa and Village Christian have met each other three times this season.
Village Christian defeated Mira Costa in the finals of the Ann Kang Invitational in Hawaii back in August. In a nonleague match at Mira Costa, Village Christian prevailed in five sets. Last month at the Durango Tournament, Mira Costa swept Village Christian in a best-of-three match.
Drew Wright led Mira Costa with 15 kills in each of the first two matches. The Mustangs played the first match without sophomore Charlie Fuerbringer.
“I talked with the Village Christian coach and we had a feeling it might happen,” Green said. “We didn’t need to exchange film.
“It is going to be tough, that team is really good and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Green said he has watched all three previous matches when scouting Village Christian.
“I’ve looked at all three (matches),” he said. “We have to make sure we’re prepared. They have a lot of good girls and we have to be prepared for each possibility.”
Around the South Bay
DIVISION 2 >> Palos Verdes will be on the road at Ontario Christian. The Sea Kings swept Pasadena Poly (three sets) and defeated Bishop Montgomery in four sets.
DIVISION 4 >> El Segundo will be on the road at Alemany. The Eagles swept Vistamar and defeated University in five sets to advance.
DIVISION 5 >> Top-seeded Torrance has recorded consecutive sweeps over Monrovia and San Dimas to advance to tonight’s quarterfinals. Torrance will host Schurr.
DIVISION 8 >> Second-seeded Wiseburn Da Vinci has swept St. Monica Academy and San Gabriel Academy to advance to the quarterfinals. Wiseburn will be on the road to face Moreno Valley in the quarterfinals.