Costa Mesa clinches CIF playoff berth by beating Calvary Chapel, Estancia

For the Costa Mesa High girls’ volleyball team, the question is not “if,” but “how” it will enter the CIF Southern Section Division 5 playoffs.

A year ago, the Mustangs finished second in the Orange Coast League for the first time, but holdovers from that team say that the club was resigned to its eventual defeat. It would be three quick sets and out for Costa Mesa in the first round against Crean Lutheran.

The players believe that things have changed. Even on their bad days, they are not laying down for anyone. The roster has a bond off the court, and it shows during games.

Despite losing one-set leads twice on Monday, Costa Mesa pulled through in a decisive fifth set to defeat Calvary Chapel.

The host Mustangs took sole possession of second place in league by winning the match 25-18, 18-25, 25-19, 20-25, 15-10.

Costa Mesa (16-6, 6-2 in league) also earned a 25-16, 25-18, 25-22 sweep of visiting Estancia (9-10, 2-6) on Tuesday, clinching one of the league’s three berths into the postseason. The playoff trip will be the Mustangs’ third during their 12 years in the Orange Coast League.

Courtney Moore finished with a team-high 21 kills, three service aces and two blocks to lead the Mustangs against Calvary Chapel, and she had 14 kills against Estancia.

The senior outside hitter believes that team chemistry should be valued over love for the sport when it comes to the source of team success.

“I think that is a big part of us as a team is just talking,” Moore said. “When someone is down, there is always like four of us saying, ‘Come on. You can do it.’

“This year, I think we definitely have a chance to win. I think we just need to pump each other up and keep doing what we’re doing.”

Mustangs coach Todd Hanson also commented on the team chemistry dynamic, saying that it has made his job easier this season.

“I’ve had teams in the past that had a lot of talent, but girls that don’t get along at all,” Hanson said. “The beauty about this team is that they all like each other.”

“I’ve got outside hitters that when one goes out and the other goes in, they’re genuinely saying, ‘Go get it. You’ll do great.’ They encourage each other when they come in and out.”

Sophomore setter Malia Tufuga had 23 assists, 14 kills, and one total block. Five of those kills came in the final set.

Felicia Crenshaw added eight kills with three total blocks, while Ashley Nguyen contributed 13 assists and four aces.

Nguyen’s serve was tantamount to her team’s success. In the first set, the Mustangs went on a seven-point run during her serve. She had three aces in that span.

“Once I get an ace, it kind of pushes me to just do better,” Nguyen said. “It’s an ace. It just feels nice to get one.”

The final ace for Nguyen came in the fifth set. A four-point run took Costa Mesa from a 6-5 deficit to a 9-6 lead.

“She had some really crucial aces for us,” Hanson said. “Her serve is more important than anyone else’s on our team because when she’s serving, I’ve got Malia and Courtney both blocking. They’re two of the best blockers in the league.”

“Tonight, she was spot on. She did a great job.”

After Calvary Chapel (12-10, 5-3) evened the match for the second time, Moore said the team’s communication helped it pull through. Players were vocal on the bench, even as Calvary Chapel scored the first two points in the fifth set.

“[The mentality was] just to work hard and communicate and give our all for 20 minutes,” Moore said. “We were playing kind of lethargic today. I think it was because it is a Monday.”

Makenzie Hill paced Calvary Chapel with 13 kills and two total blocks. Bailey Coffin had 12 kills, and Rochel Go handed out 27 assists.

Andrew.Turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @ProfessorTurner