Mustangs Continue Run Through Bay League With 3-0 Sweep of Palos Verdes

It's been a busy month for the Mira Costa boys volleyball team. Over the weekend, the Mustangs (20-1) suffered their first loss of the season to Newport Harbor in five sets at the Karch Kiraly Tournament of Champions in Santa Barbara.

Tuesday, they got back to business in the Bay League, picking up a sweep of Palos Verdes (25-18, 25-19, 25-23) to go 4-0 in league play.

After a decisive 25-18 win in the first set, the teams alternated points to 6-6.

Karl Acres pounded the ball to the floor for a kill for the beginning of a 6-2 run.

Then in a role reversal of sorts, outside hitter D.J. White set up Kameron Bain for a spike, but in a long rally Bain did what he does best, setting up White for a swift kill and a 12-8 lead.

“We are working towards CIF," said Bain. "Our ultimate goal is to win the CIF title and we are working game-by-game to get where we want to be."

The Mustangs have been without outside hitters Jake Miller (lost for the season with a knee injury) and Chris Orenic (ankle) recently and have relied upon an extended bench to provide depth and quality play.

A thunderous Acres' kill gave the Mustangs their biggest lead at 20-12 and Weston Carico would knock in a kill to the far corner to close out the second set 25-19.

“Weston has grown a lot," said Mira Costa coach Sean Shoptaw. "He has been a different player recently. He’s a lot more confident now with some good game experience."

In game three, Mira Costa would further showcase their depth as Bain sat on the bench after picking up 21 assists in the first two sets.

“Our subs are just as capable, and everyone comes in and does their job well for us,” said Bain.

The Mustangs' offense ran through Jackson Carr (11 assists), with numerous subs seeing valuable court time.

“I think it builds our chemistry to have different guys coming in and out," said White. "Guys are cheering more when they get more playing time and supporting each other."

Palos Verdes (20-9) came out strong in game three, winning a lengthy rally as their front line gave Mira Costa issues and Shane Dyer knocked home a kill for a 9-7 lead.

Following a kill by White, Zack Proctor and Keith Waddell would converge on a block to give Mira Costa its first lead of the set 12-11.

Palos Verdes lefthander Ryan Marcill hammered a kill  to tie the set at 18, leading to a timeout by Mira Costa.

“We have played a lot recently," Shoptaw said. "a lot of big matches, and in a day game early in the week, I thought we were a little sloppy at points, but we got the win."

The Mustangs would come out energized from the timeout as junior middle blocker Michael Debevec came up with an emphatic block to the delight of his teammates and Proctor finished out the 25-23 win with a kill.

“Proctor is a guy who has played a lot of big volleyball and we’re lucky to have someone that good off the bench," said Shoptaw. "On most high school teams, he would be starting."

White led the Mustangs with 17 kills, followed by 8 from Acres. Proctor came up with 5 kills to go along with a team-best 7 digs and Waddell added 5 kills to go with 3 blocks. 

Dyer led Palos Verdes with 9 kills and 3 blocks. Michael Shepherd came up with 6 kills and 6 blocks.