The Mustangs didn’t win the Bay League crown in 2014, a rare setback in the life and times of the Mira Costa boys volleyball program, which boasts seven CIF Southern Section championships, a Southern California Regional title and four national championships to go along with dozens of Bay League titles.
Last year’s second-round playoff loss made it official: it was a disappointing season for a program with huge expectations every year.
But fittingly, Mira Costa bounced back in a big way this season, winning back the Bay League crown and reaching both the CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals and Southern California Regional Division 1 semifinals.
Leading the charge was Bay League MVP and Daily Breeze Player of the Year Blake Markland, who is taking his talents to USC next season
“Losing the way we did last year left a bad taste, and we were very hungry this year,” Markland said. “We had a slow start, but it only encouraged us to work harder in practice and grind it out, then we started to win matches.”
Mira Costa went 25-7, including a perfect 10-0 in the Bay League. Five of the team’s seven losses came against powerhouses Huntington Beach and Loyola.
Mira Costa lost in fives sets to Newbury Park at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions before coming back to beat the same team in four sets in the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals.
Mira Costa was swept by Loyola early in the season before taking the Cubs to five sets in the regional semifinals, showing the team’s improvement as the season progressed.
Markland said beating Newbury Park and nearly beating Loyola were the highlights of the season.
“It was really intense, we really stepped up the second time against Newbury Park,” Markland said. “It was one of our biggest wins of the season, we played at our full potential. And the regional semifinal against Loyola was one of the funnest matches I ever played in even though we lost.”
Markland’s leadership and all-around play sparked Mira Costa’s big season.
“He can put balls away from anywhere on the court, he blocks well, he can go on runs from the service line and he really pushed our guys to fight and compete,” Mira Costa coach Sean Shoptaw said. “He was a force”
Co-Coaches of the Year
Sean Shoptaw, Mira Costa
Anjinho Bacil, El Segundo
Shoptaw led Mira Costa to a bounceback season after the team took second place in the Bay League and reached the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs in 2014. This year Mira Costa won the Bay League crown and reached both the CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals and the Southern California Division 1 Regional semifinals.
“This team really just needed to see that talent is only part of the equation, it’s about fiercely competing, working hard, pushing each other and grinding out matches until you win,” Shoptaw said. “As the season went on we really began to understand that and became a very good team that I was proud to coach.”
Meanwhile, Bacil led El Segundo to the CIF-SS Division 3 championship, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Quartz Hill in five sets in the final. Bacil’s squad showed heart and grit in bringing home its second CIF crown. Bacil also led El Segundo to the Division 4 championship in 2010.
FIRST TEAM
WELLINGTON AFUSIA
Carson, Sr. OH
The Marine League MVP led Carson to the L.A. City Section Division I championship match.
JOE KELLY
El Segundo, Soph. S
He was named MVP of the Ocean League and guided team to CIF-SS Division 3 title.
CARTER KIMBLE
Mira Costa, Sr. MB
Kimble was a force at the net and a first-team All-Bay League pick for Bay League champion Mira Costa.
BRAD MARICLE
Palos Verdes, Jr. OH
Clutch performer was named Most Outstanding Player in the Bay League after leading PV to a second-place finish.
STEPHEN MOYE
El Segundo, Jr. MB
Named Most Outstanding Player in the Ocean League and Player of Year in CIF-SS Division 3.
MAX PEREZ
Torrance, Jr. OPP
Named MVP of the Pioneer League after leading the Tartars to the league championship.
JACKSON WEDBUSH
Mira Costa, Jr. OH
Wedbush sparked Mira Costa on the way to Bay League title and CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals.
SECOND TEAM
DOMINIC CANGIALOSI
Redondo, Sr. MB
MATT CARTER
El Segundo, Sr. MB
CHRIS CASKEY
Mira Costa, Sr. MB
TROY ELLIS
South Torrance, Jr. OH
ROY MCFARLAND
Mira Costa, Jr. OPP
BLAKE MILES
Bishop Montgomery, Sr. OH
NOAH TAITANO
Carson, Jr. OH
HONORABLE MENTION
DREW BEIMEL
Bishop Montgomery, Sr.
DAVID DORSEY
West Torrance, Sr.
ROMEO FAATAI
Narbonne, Sr.
KEVIN GONZALEZ
Torrance, Sr.
CONOR HEALY
San Pedro, Sr.
SAM JONES
Mira Costa, Jr.
JONATHAN KIELBASINSKI
Mira Costa, Jr.
LANE KRAI
Palos Verdes, Jr.
BRANDON KURKE
El Segundo, Sr.
LUCAS LOSSONE
Redondo, Jr.
CONNOR LUCIER
Chadwick, Sr.
JACK LYNCH
Palos Verdes, Jr.
JADEN MISAALEFUA
Carson, Jr.
AUSTIN PAK
Peninsula, Sr.
KYLE POLK
Torrance, Sr.
JUSTIN UY
Carson, Jr.
NICK RABLE
El Segundo, Sr.
NOLAN SHARP
El Segundo, Sr.
