Boys’ volleyball: Bragging rights and more are at stake in Loyola-Mira Costa

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One of the great sporting events in Southern California takes places on Friday at 7 p.m. at Loyola Marymount when volleyball powers Los Angeles Loyola and Manhattan Beach Mira Costa face off in what is always an entertaining event on the court and in the stands.

There are players from both teams who are best friends and even neighbors. Ten players _ five from each team _ have already committed to colleges. Two future UCLA players on Loyola will be taking on a future UCLA player on Mira Costa. One future Ivy Leaguer on Loyola will be taking on a future Ivy Leaguer on Mira Costa. It’s going to be that kind of a match.

‘It’s a spectacle,’ Loyola Coach Michael Boehle said.

Loyola’s top player is UCLA-bound Jackson Bantle. Mira Costa’s top player is Long Beach State-bound Scott Stephanoff.

Loyola is ranked No. 2 and Mira Costa No. 3 in the Southern Section Division 1 poll.

Admission is $6. There’s also a parking fee if you park on the Loyola Marymount campus.

Boehle talks about the match in an interview on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on Time Warner Cable’s Varsity Roundup show on Channel 101.

-- Eric Sondheimer