No. 1 Mira Costa Returns to Work

The Mira Costa High boys' volleyball team wouldn't call this a case of being rusty. The Mustangs don't make excuses.

But, whatever the reason, this definitely didn't look like the same team that headed into spring break having posted key victories over Loyola, Orange Lutheran and Newport Harbor in the span of less than a week.

Nevertheless, Mira Costa returned from a nearly two-week break Thursday by sweeping rival Redondo Union 25-21, 25-23, 26-24 in a Bay League contest in their rival's gym.

The result was a little too close for comfort for the Mustangs (11-1, 1-0), who are ranked No.1 in Division I of the CIF-Southern Section and have not lost to the Sea Hawks (14-7, 1-2) since 2006.

"You never know what to expect," Mira Costa coach Mike Ninnis said of facing Redondo. "This is always a really big game for Redondo. They're always up for it and give us a challenge. But I certainly didn't expect it to be this close. They played steady and didn't make many mistakes. On the other hand, we did."

Mira Costa was on the verge of seeing the match go to a fourth game when the Mustangs came from behind late in game 3.

A kill by Redondo's Riley Theunissen had given the Sea Hawks a 24-23 lead and game-point, but Mira Costa's Kevin Donohue pounded a kill to even the score, and teammate Erik Mochalski recorded the final two points by blocking attempted spikes by Theunissen.

"We got saved by a couple timely blocks," Ninnis said.

Redondo opened game 3 with a 5-0 run and went on to lead by as much as six, the biggest lead of the night for either team. The Mustangs closed within one four times before forcing the game's first tie at 23-23.

"Coming back like that in game 3 was a good experience," Donohue said. "Overall it was a good eye-opener. We can't come out slow like we did tonight. We made too many mistakes. We can't play like this against some of the top teams we're going to play."

Mira Costa mounted its biggest lead of the day in the first game, posting five-point leads on multiple occasions after taking the lead for good at 12-11.

Game 2 also required a late comeback from the Mustangs. Redondo, using solid defense and passing to overcome a size disadvantage, led 20-18, but Mira Costa scored the next three points and never trailed again. A kill by Redondo's Trevor Butler forced the game's 13th tie at 23-23, but Jace Olsen put the Mustangs in the lead for good with a kill.

Mochalski led Mira Costa with 13 kills, Donohue added 11 kills and setter Bryce Miller contributed 23 assists.

Theunissen paced Redondo Union with 12 kills.

"I know Redondo's good," Donohue said. "They've got a good coach, I know him from club. We knew they'd be ready for us, but this wasn't one of our better games."

The match was the Mustangs' first since sweeping Newport Harbor on March 26. "That wasn't a factor," Ninnis said of the time off. "We should have been ready."