Friendships End on the Volleyball Court

Once Brooks Varni steps on court with his Mira Costa volleyball teammates Saturday night, the Manhattan Beach resident's friendship with club volleyball teammate Michael Mullahey ends. And his friendship with another Manhattan Beach resident, Colin LaPorte is over, too.

At least, temporarily.

"I'm really competitive with my friends," said Varni, libero on a squad looking to beat arch rival Loyola High for the first time this season when the two teams square off at 7:30 p.m. at Cypress College in a quest to see who will be the CIF Southern Section Division I champion. Mullahey and LaPorte play for Loyola, the team that has held the No. 1 nationwide ranking in the ESPN Powerade Fab 50 poll since it began in March.

Said Varni about playing against friends: "It just makes it more fun. Once we step on the court, it's all about volleyball and winning."

For those who don't know, Varni and MCHS teammates Kevin Inlow, Keith Waddel and Christopher Orenic play with Mullahey on a Southern California Volleyball Club.

And MCHS setter Jackson Carr plays on the Manhattan Beach Surf Volleyball Club with Loyola players LaPorte and Jagger Kroener, another MB resident.

"We're all pretty excited for the rematch (against Loyola)," said Varni.

And how will MCHS manage to beat Loyola, a team that hasn't lost a game in post season play and a team MCHS has lost to twice (25-12, 25-19 in the Poway Best of the West Tournament and 25-19, 17-25, 25-20, 25-23 in late March at Loyola Marymount) this season?

"This is the time to capitalize on our momentum," said Varni. "We need to play really well on defense."

The momentum Varni speaks of comes from a win Tuesday in the semi-finals against Esperanza, 18-25, 25-15, 25-19, 25-20, who beat MCHS in their previous matchup. In that contest, Esperanza was victorious, 25-23, 25-20, 25-23.

Notably, the MCHS team has moved up in the ESPN Powerade Fab 50 poll, going from No. 6 in week one to No. 3 nationwide as of May 15, after its defeat of Esperanza. 

"It's been a great season," said Varni, "great teammates, great coaches. We've had some tough losses and great wins."

Hopefully, Saturday night's game will land in the "great wins" category.