Costa Boys Set for Volleyball Season

Spring sports have sprung for the Bay League, which means it’s time for boys volleyball to take center stage at Mira Costa High.

There is no doubt the Mustangs have shined brighter than almost anybody when it comes to volleyball.

The history page on the Costa Volleyball website sums up the program’s tradition of excellence. It reads:

“In our 50-year history, no team sport has mirrored the culture and fabric of our small beach community… more than Mira Costa volleyball. 

Unparalleled in its lore, Mira Costa has had more volleyball players compete in (NCAA) Division 1 volleyball and more players participate on the Pro Beach Volleyball Tour than any other high school in the country.”

Mira Costa coach Mike Ninnis didn’t write those words, but he’s proud to be part of the tradition.

“It’s a tremendous thing to be part of,” he said Thursday. “There is a strong tradition, almost like a fraternity here. You have guys hang out 25 years after they played, who still talk about winning league or CIF.”

“Volleyball is growing in popularity, but there’s a fairly small list of schools that have been good over the long haul,” Ninnis added.

Mira Costa, which was a CIF runner-up last year, opens its season Friday night at Santa Barbara, another volleyball power.

Senior outside hitter D.J. White and senior libero Tony Ensbury are returning starters for the Mustangs, and Ninnis also expects strong seasons from, among others, junior outside hitter Chris Orenic, center Kameron Bain and Jake Miller.

“We graduated the lion’s share of last year’s squad, so we are inexperienced on the varsity level,” Ninnis said. “But we’re a spirited and energetic group. We’ll have to see how it plays out at this point.”

The Mustangs are ranked No. 2 in the CIF’s top division, but Ninnis puts no credence into that.

“That’s based on nothing,” he said. “I think they just took a look last year’s final rankings. We lost in the finals to Loyola. We still have to earn that ranking this year.”

After the Santa Barbara opener, which Ninnis called “a good awakening,” the Mustangs will take part in the Best of the West Tournament at Poway High.

“That is always the best preseason tournament. The best teams are there,” Ninnis said.

The traditional Mira Costa-Redondo rivalry should be even more intense this season. Redondo has an experienced team and could be significantly improved.

“I would say this year the rivalry will be better than most,” Ninnis said. 

State Playoffs Surprise

Imagine the heartbreak of a one-point loss that ends a 26-game winning streak—your dream season is over, your hopes for a glorious CIF championship are dashed.

You spend the weekend reflecting on the season behind you and return to school Monday for a final meeting in the gym.

Only, before you get there, you are told your season is not over after all.

After the Peninsula High boys basketball team lost last week to Mayfair, 61-59, in the semifinals of the Division 2A playoffs at Cerritos High, the CIF had extended an at-large bid to Peninsula to participate in the Division 2 State playoffs starting Tuesday, March 8.

“It was a weird weekend,” Peninsula coach Jim Quick told Patch on Wednesday. “I thought things were over on Friday. I took them out to breakfast for a last team meal. Then Monday morning I got a call from our AD telling me ‘get your paperwork in, you’re going to state.'”

Quick wasted no time getting the players together to deliver the news, he said.

“We had no idea this was coming. I told them at lunch ‘we’re going to state,’” Quick said. “They were shocked, excited, everything you might expect.”

Peninsula has never gone to state. No one in the program considered that the Panthers’ remarkable record (28-2) and No. 1 ranking in CIF-2A might lead to an at-large bid.

“It’s a little bit of an emotional ride,” Quick said

The Panthers will find out this weekend who and where they will play. The brackets will be filled in after the division championship games are played throughout the state.