Mira Costa Struggles, but Holds Off Newport Harbor

Welcome to the Southern Section 4-A Division high school boys’ volleyball tournament, where even three-game sweeps are a struggle.

Mira Costa, ranked No. 1 nationally by Volleyball Monthly, rallied in all but the last game for a 15-11, 16-14, 15-5 victory over Newport Harbor on Thursday night in the 4-A quarterfinals at Newport Harbor.

Mira Costa, the 4-A runner-up in 1987 and 1989, advance to the semifinals against the winner of tonight’s Laguna Beach-San Marcos game.

David Swatik had 17 kills and four blocks and Pat Ivie, the younger brother of USC and U.S. national team member Bryan Ivie, had 13 to lead Mira Costa.

“We toughed it out,” Mira Costa Coach Mike Cook said. “This was a tough place to play. The Newport crowd made a lot of noise and our kids couldn’t communicate. Newport gave us an excellent test in the first two games.”

Mira Costa (16-0) rallied from a 9-4 deficit in the first game. Swatik had four kills and Mike Ashenfelter had two blocks as the Mustangs capitalized on four Newport Harbor hitting errors in an 11-2 run.

The Mustangs found themselves behind again early in the second game. They came back from deficits of 5-0 and 10-5 and fought off game point to tie the score, 14-14. Consecutive kills by Mark Shoptaw and Brian Thurston gave the Mustangs a 16-14 victory.

“We didn’t lose this game,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said. “They beat us. I just wish we could have had that second game back.

“We got stuck on nine in the first game and stuck on 10 in the second game. We had our chances. Mira Costa is a real good team and if you make mistakes against them, they’ll capitalize on you.

“We felt good coming in and we had a good start in each of the first two games. We knew we could play with them.”

Mira Costa didn’t have to bother with a comeback in the third game. The Mustangs built a 6-0 lead and let Newport Harbor (11-6) no closer than five points.

“Newport played themselves out in the first two games,” Cook said. “The key was the second game, when we came back.”

Alex Opoulos and Ian Juberg each had 11 kills to lead Newport Harbor.