Chatsworth Victim of Early Finish : Girls’ volleyball: Mira Costa ousts Chancellors in first round of State playoffs, 15-11, 15-4, 15-11.

Chatsworth High had every reason to come out flat against Mira Costa in the first round of the Division I State girls’ volleyball playoffs.

Three days ago, the Chancellors defeated Palisades in an exhausting five games to clinch the City Section 4-A Division title. As a reward, Chatsworth played host to the Mustangs, the second-ranked team in the state that was smarting from a blowout loss in the Southern Section Division I final.

Except for a few inopportune moments, seventh-seeded Chatsworth was able to compete with Mira Costa (30-2) before falling, 15-11, 15-4, 15-11, Tuesday night.

“They were dead when they came in for practice Monday,” Coach Bud Dow said. “They were exhausted, and beat up from Saturday. But we were serious about trying to win this match.”

Outside hitters Jennifer Joseph (10 kills) and Nicole Snell (six kills) made Mira Costa defenders dive to retrieve kill attempts, but excellent passing to setter Mandy Lawson kept the Mustangs ahead in each game.

Chatsworth had trouble getting the ball to middle blocker Jennifer Hodges. Hodges, dominant in the City playoffs, had only one kill after two games and finished with three kills and two blocks.

Chatsworth’s first lapse came late in the second game, when Kristen Sigel served six straight points to clinch the game. The Chancellors handled Sigel’s jump-serve but several passing and hitting errors did in the Chancellors.

Chatsworth (14-5) rallied from a 9-5 deficit to tie the third game at 11-11, but Hodges and Joseph misfired on kill attempts and two setting errors by Karla Campo finished the match.

“I’m really hurt and disappointed,” Hodges said. “I’m really upset about the way we played at times. We came together at the beginning but then we lost it. We could have beaten this team if we all played together the whole time.”