State High School Volleyball Playoffs : Poway Gets Lesson From Mira Costa

POWAY —  The Poway High School girls’ volleyball team found out Tuesday night just how good it has to become to compete with the top teams in the state.

Mira Costa High School of Manhattan Beach, the nation’s fifth-ranked team, defeated Poway, San Diego’s No. 1 team, 15-0, 13-15, 15-11, 15-7, in first-round play of the Southern California regional Division I playoffs.

It was a disappointing night all around for San Diego County teams that had hoped this was the season it would close the gap in the dominance of Los Angeles and Orange County teams. Only Francis Parker come away a first-round victory in Division III play. St. Anthony defeated top-seeded University of San Diego High, 15-14, 15-14, 15-8, in Division II play at USDHS and Gahr defeated Torrey Pines, 15-1, 15-7, 15-13, in Division I play at Cerritos.

Doing the damage for Mira Costa (24-1), was 5-foot, 8-inch junior setter Piper Hahn, whose deadly jump serve dominated the match. Hahn forced Poway (25-1) into numerous passing errors as she recorded 16 aces.

Hahn set the tone for the entire match in the first game, as she served 8 consecutive points, recording 3 aces, in a 15-0 victory.

“I try to make it spin so the ball drops,” Hahn said. “It creates a misperception by the passer. I served better than I usually do.”

Poway, which won a lot of 15-0 game this season, didn’t get down after the loss in Game 1. Poway took an 8-2 lead in the second game before Mira Costa rallied to take a 12-10 lead. Poway tied the score, 13-13, and with senior Shannon Griffin serving, Mira Costa’s Jennifer Smith missed wide on a kill attempt and Poway’s Paige Smith smacked a set by Amy Boyer off the block for game point, as Poway pulled even.

In the third game, it was all Hahn, with 4 aces and a kill, as she kept Poway’s defense guessing with serves and accurate sets.

“She was just about 75% of the match,” Poway Coach Lisa Reis said. “We handled their other hitters. Take her out of the match and what is it?”

Hahn added 4 more aces in the final game. Poway rallied from a 5-0 deficit to tie it at 7-7, before Mira Costa scored the next 8 points for the victory.

“They are a young team and will be in contention for the next few years,” Mira Costa Coach Dae Lea Aldrich said. “We probably overpowered them. We’re 5-A and they’re 3-A, we played tough competition all season and that’s the difference.”

Said Reis: “We’ve beaten everybody like they beat us.”

DIVISION III

Francis Parker defeated Mission College Prep, 15-9, 15-1, 15-3--Two-time defending Division III state champions, Francis Parker, relied on serves to continue on its road toward a third consecutive state title. “We served really tough, that’s where we won it,” Francis Parker Coach Sabine Stork said. Gina Herrera had 14 aces and Belle Keith had 9 for Francis Parker (20-4). “That first game was a little shaky,” Stork said, “but we came back and played some good ball.” Mary Burt, Heidi West and Tina Harris led Francis Parker. Francis Parker, who has won four consecutive San Diego Section titles, is the only San Diego team that has won 2 state championships in a row. The Lancers play Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at home in a semifinal.