Mira Costa undefeated as it chases another CIF-SS championship
The Mira Costa girls beach volleyball team went undefeated last season and hasn't lost in 2024.
The Mustangs are 8-0 and have swept seven of their opponents this season.
“We lost four seniors in the starting lineup, but we're returning four who were in the starting lineup,” Mustangs coach Nancy Mason Reynolds said. “It feels different, but luckily we have this depth.”
The Mustangs' No. 1 team last season was Erin Inskeep and Charlie Fuerbringer. Inskeep graduated last spring and is playing at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Reynolds said that Fuerbringer, a senior, isn't playing for Mira Costa's beach team this spring.
The Mustangs had several other players from last season move on to college indoor or beach volleyball programs: Tanon Rosenthal (Loyola Marymount), Isabella Healy (High Point), Brooke Balue (Washington), Carly Greskovics (Michigan), Ameena Campbell (Cal State Fullerton).
“We missed some of that leadership, but the seniors we have now have been just as amazing and incredible,” Reynolds said.
This year's roster has 12 seniors: Hayden Lin, Kendal Steller,
Emma Markolf, Gabby Smith, Siena Hertlein, Rachel Moglia, Kate Morley, Savanna Lau, Giselle Lau, Chloe Hynes, Alexandra Kurz and Reese Thai-Sandoval.
Pairs to watch for the Mustangs have been Audrey Flanagan-Savanna Lau, Giselle Lau-Simone Roslon and Taylor Deckert-Morley.
Mira Costa defeated Redondo 5-0 on March 5. Their second match is March 21.
The Mustangs have upcoming matches against San Marcos (March 22) and Palos Verdes (Tuesday and April 11).
The Mustangs had a 4-1 win over JSerra, currently ranked second in the CIF-SS Division 1 poll.
“Redondo is deep as they've been,” Reynolds said, “which is awesome we won 5-0. But all (of the matches) were very competitive. We played JSerra, they're strong and deep. We have San Marcos coming up. All of these programs are continuing to add depth. We've always had that to fall back on.
“I think this is going to be a competitive season.”
CIF-SS RANKINGS » Mira Costa is No. 1 in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 poll. Redondo is third.
In Division 2, Bishop Montgomery is ranked second, followed by Peninsula (fourth) and El Segundo (fifth).