Peninsula Is No Match for Mira Costa This Time : Volleyball: Mustangs gain revenge for earlier loss to Panthers by winning the Redondo-Mira Costa Classic.

The Mira Costa High boys’ volleyball team gained revenge Saturday for an early season loss to Peninsula by defeating the Panthers, 15-1, 9-15, 15-8, in the championship match of the Redondo-Mira Costa Varsity Classic at Redondo.

“We lost to Peninsula the third game of the year and we wanted to come back and redeem ourselves,” Mira Costa Coach Mike Cook said. “We wanted to show we were a better team than that. Therefore we came out focused and got the job done the way we wanted.”

Although the field was cut to 16 teams because of rioting that has occurred in Los Angeles, it drew two of the Southern Section 4-A Division’s top-rated teams. Peninsula is ranked No. 2 and Mira Costa is No. 5.

The outcome of the first game was never in doubt as Mira Costa (11-4) took a 12-1 lead. The Mustangs put away the match on outside hitter Matt Walker’s ace and a kill from middle blocker Brian Kingston.

Mira Costa threatened to run away with the second game, too, taking a 7-2 lead. But Peninsula tied the score, 9-9, went ahead on two Pat Crawford aces. It won the match on two blocks from Darren Gable.

The Mustangs led early in the final game but Peninsula closed to within, 9-8. After two kills by Kingston, the Panthers failed to return the ball on successive serves to give Mira Costa the championship.

“We came out flat in the first game and I kind of blame our practice ethic on that,” Peninsula Coach Bryan Godbold said. “It definitely showed in that first game. That’s exactly how we practiced.

“We found a groove in the second game and our defense started digging and blocking some balls. Basically, the defense got a lot tighter and kept us in some rallies until we could finally get some points.”

Tournament most valuable player Cameron Green led Mira Costa with 42 kills and 10 digs and Walker added 28 kills and 13 digs. Middle blocker Chris Walmer had 28 kills and 21 blocks and Marc Pioch had 17 digs.

That was enough to impress Cook, who said he likes the way his team is playing.

“Our goal is to go on and win the CIF title,” he said. “This was a big step. I think we let people know that early season (Mira) Costa is not the same team as late-season (Mira) Costa.”

Mira Costa beat Redondo and Esperanza by 15-10 scores, then reached the final with a 15-4 victory over Brentwood. Peninsula (12-0) advanced by defeating Santa Monica, 15-9, Long Beach Wilson, 15-8, and South Torrance, 15-1.