Mira Costa Rolls Into Semifinals

A matchup with highly regarded Anaheim Esperanza wasn’t exactly what the Manhattan Beach Mira Costa girls’ volleyball team anticipated for the first round of the state tournament, but the way the Mustangs played Tuesday night, it didn’t really matter what team was on the other side of the net.

Top-seeded Mira Costa continued its dominant postseason run with a 25-17, 25-16, 25-18 sweep over visiting Esperanza in a Division I match.

Mira Costa, a 13-time section champion, has swept six consecutive matches this postseason and has allowed more than 19 points in a game only twice. The Mustangs will play host to Torrey Pines in a regional semifinal on Saturday night.

Esperanza (28-6) was the Southern Section Division I-AA runner-up, and coaches from Mira Costa and Esperanza were surprised that the Aztecs were seeded No. 8 behind City Section champion San Pedro, Division I-A runner-up Temecula Chaparral and San Diego Section runner-up Torrey Pines.

“We thought we’d get San Pedro,” said Mira Costa Coach DaeLea Aldrich, whose team won the Division I-A title. “But at this point in the season, you have to play everyone, so bring them on.”

The Mustangs (26-3) are peaking at the right time and appear unstoppable in a run for their first state title since 1989. Tuesday, they played with sharpness and efficiency. Mustang hitters put away nearly half of Taylor Carico’s sets.

Alix Klineman had 17 kills and only one error. Lauren Bledsoe had seven kills without an error. Add in 10 kills and 11 digs from Jessica Hardy and it’s easy to see that opposing coaches have their work cut out trying to stop the Mustangs.

“I’d have a hard time accepting it if you said they won’t win the state title,” Esperanza Coach Isaac Owens said. Ashley Engle had 15 kills and Brittany Lowe added 13 for Esperanza, which led, 11-9, in the third game before Mira Costa went on a 12-5 run.

“This was the best match we’ve played all season,” said Carico, who finished with 32 assists. “It was a complete team effort. We’re all just coming together at the right time.”

Peter Yoon

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Highlights from other state tournament matches Tuesday:

* Allie Kincheloe had 47 assists and eight players registered kills for second-seeded Santa Ana Mater Dei (26-4) in a 25-23, 25-13, 25-16 Division II victory over host Lemoore (29-4).

* Brianna Bowman had 11 kills, Dicey McGraw added nine and Beth Wildermuth had 39 assists to lead host and second-seeded Santa Margarita (23-13) past Visalia Mt. Whitney, 25-10, 25-12, 25-17, in Division III play.

* L.A. Notre Dame Academy avenged a first-round defeat last year with a 25-18, 25-13, 25-9 victory over host Chowchilla in Division IV play. Lindsay Paroczi had 13 kills, Taylor O’Brien added 12 kills and Casey Cressman had 17 digs for the second-seeded Regals (23-7).