SOUTHERN SECTION VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS : Huntington Beach Can’t Stop Mira Costa

Huntington Beach’s run in the Southern Section Division I girls’ volleyball playoffs came to an abrupt end Thursday night when the Oilers lost to second-seeded Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, 15-3, 15-8, 15-6, in a semifinal match at Redondo Union High School.

The third-seeded Oilers (16-4) appeared to be overmatched from the start, and held only two leads in the three games.

“(Mira Costa’s defense) never really let us get going,” Huntington Beach Coach Rocky Ciarelli said. “Our defense was not very good. Usually you can key on one player, but they have five girls who can hit the ball, which makes them tougher to match up with.”

With the score tied, 2-2, the Mustangs went on runs of seven and six consecutive points to put the first game out of reach. The Oilers recorded only three kills in the first game.

After Huntington Beach pulled out to a 3-1 lead in Game 2, the Mustangs (29-1) ran off the next six points.

Mira Costa did not let up, scoring eight of the last nine points in the game. Junior Rochelle Esparza had seven kills and Lori Garber added six, giving the Mustangs a two-game edge.

Huntington Beach fell behind early in Game 3 and never recovered. Esparza’s match-high 17th kill finished off the Oilers.