State Volleyball Finals : Newport Harbor Falls to Mira Costa Again

The Mira Costa High School girls’ volleyball team reestablished a point it made to Newport Harbor last month: The Mustangs are the better team.

Mira Costa swept the Sailors in three games, 15-4, 15-4, 15-10, to win the Division I state title in the Golden West College gym Saturday night before 2,000 spectators.

The Mustangs (24-0) had little trouble in the match, trailing by no more than four points in any game. In the second game, Newport Harbor looked as if it might recover from game one, but Mira Costa scored 15 unanswered points, including the last nine points in succession, off the serves of junior Megan McCallister.

In game one, the Mustangs scored the first eight points before Newport Harbor could break serve. After the Sailors scored twice, Mira Costa upped its lead to 14-2 before going on to win 15-4.

The story was much the same in the CIF 5-A final last month, when Mira Costa also swept the Sailors. Newport Harbor finished the season at 21-2, both losses coming against the Mustangs.

Newport Harbor Coach Mike Neece had no explanation after the game except the obvious. “They are the best high school team I have ever seen in my 10 years of coaching,” Neece said. “They just don’t make mistakes and have the physical ability to play conservative and win.”

Two Sailors made the all-tournament team. Setter Karen Asper, a senior, was credited with 15 assists in the three games. Sophomore Jenny Evans had five kills in the match and was placed on the all-tournament team.

Mira Costa last won the state title in 1982.