No.1 Mira Costa High Outlasts Edison in 3-Hour Marathon Volleyball Match

Mira Costa High School, ranked No. 1 in the nation in boys volleyball by USA Today, survived a three-hour, five-game challenge Wednesday night from host Huntington Beach Edison and came away with a 16-14, 15-10, 12-15, 13-15, 15-12 victory.

“It was an endurance contest,” Mira Costa Coach Mike Cook said. “Edison really geared up for us. You’ve got to give them a lot of credit.”

Edison is ranked fourth in the Southern Section 4-A Division.

“They’re ranked fourth, but they might be even better than that,” Cook said.

Mira Costa middle blocker Mike Ashenfelter served an ace to give the unbeaten Mustangs a 12-11 lead in the final game. Mark Shoptaw, a 6-foot-3 junior outside hitter, served another ace on the final point to put the game away.

“We really gutted it out there at the end,” Cook said. “I’m really proud of the kids for hanging in there and pulling it out on an enemy court. We made a lot of errors, though, and that’s something we’re going to have to go back and work on.”

The Mustangs were led by 6-4 outside hitter David Swatik, who had 27 kills. Ashenfelter also put away 21 kills on 30 attempts and added 15 blocks over the middle.

Shoptaw had 20 kills for Mira Costa. Canyon Ceman, a 6-4 senior setter, put away 19 in 32 attempts and 6-5 senior middle blocker Pat Ivie added 19 in 31 tries.