Mira Costa Tunes Up For SB Tournament With Easy Win

The Mira Costa High boys volleyball team geared up for this weekend's Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions by showing off the depth that's helped make the Mustangs the top-ranked Division I team in the CIF Southern Section.

Despite limited playing time by its starters, Mira Costa needed little more than an hour to sweep visiting Peninsula, 25-13, 25-19, 25-13, in Thursday's Bay League match.

"We got the starters some reps in the first game," Mira Costa coach Mike Ninnis said. "But then it was a combination of we wanted to give them some rest before this weekend, and it was a good chance to get everyone playing time."

The win came on the heels of Tuesday's defeat of West Torrance in a 3-1 match. (See photos)

Stanford-bound senior Eric Mochalski was not even in uniform for Thursday's match. Ninnis said Mochalski was resting a tender back and will return to the lineup for the Santa Barbara tournament, an event at which the 6-foot-5 opposite earned MVP honors last season.

"He could have played if we needed him to," Ninnis said. "It was more of a precautionary thing and a good chance to give Davis Waddell more playing time since he's coming back from an injury."

Waddell, who recently returned from a thumb injury, led the Mustangs with seven kills and seven blocks.

Kyle Burgoyne came off the bench to also contribute seven kills. Sophomore Chris Orenic had six kills. Bryce Miller and Michael Beals shared setting duties, with Beals notching 18 assists and Miller adding 11 assists.

Mira Costa (13-1, 3-0) was rarely challenged by a Peninsula team that dropped to 1-2 in league play.

Jace Olsen got the Mustangs rolling with four consecutive aces for a 5-1 lead in game one. The Panthers managed back-to-back points only twice in the game as Mira Costa cruised to a 12-point victory sealed with a kill by Waddell.

Waddell was the lone starter on the court to begin game two, and he was on the sidelines by the middle of the game. The Mustangs took the lead for good at 2-1 on a Peninsula service error. A four-point run that brought the Panthers within 15-12 was their longest of the afternoon.

In the third game, Peninsula remained within striking distance until midgame. By the time Orenic served up his second ace of the game, Mira Costa led 19-11. The Mustangs, who have not lost a game in league play this season, scored the final five points to clinch the sweep.

Mira Costa begins defense of its Santa Barbara tournament title Friday against Santa Ynez.

"We'll have four matches in the next two days," Ninnis said. "It's a big tournament. So this was good to get them a little rest."