Mira Costa Keeps Coming Back for More

Better make more room in the gym. Manhattan Beach Mira Costa won another girls’ volleyball championship.

The banners and trophies keep multiplying for the Mustangs, who won their 11th Southern Section championship, nearly twice as many as the next best team, by defeating Newport Harbor, 15-8, 15-3, 15-10, in the Division II-AA title match Saturday at Cypress College.

Jessica Veris delivered 13 kills and Renee Lopes had seven for the top-seeded Mustangs (29-5), who won their second consecutive championship by carving a niche for themselves--defense.

Three players had at least 10 digs for the Mustangs, who showed stellar back-row defense on several long rallies.

“They’re not living off the image of Mira Costa,” Coach DaeLea Aldrich said. “This is their team.”

The Mustangs took a 9-0 lead in the first game and, with the exception of a 9-5 deficit in the third game, rarely looked concerned.

Kristin McClune had 12 kills and Liz Lord added 10 kills for No. 2-seeded Newport Harbor (21-10), which advances to the state playoffs along with Mira Costa.