A New Challenge Awaits Mira Costa’s Volleyball Team : Preview: The Peninsula High boys appear to have the talent and depth to challenge the Mustangs for area bragging rights.

Mira Costa High has always been the powerhouse among South Bay boys’ volleyball teams, but that is beginning to change.

All it took to compete with the Mustangs was the merging of Miraleste, Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills to create Peninsula.

“It’s nice for one of the teams on the hill to break in and be one of the elite teams,” Peninsula co-coach Bryan Godbold said. “It’s good for volleyball in the South Bay.”

A preseason match between Mira Costa and Peninsula--ranked fifth and sixth in the Southern Section 4-A Division--provided an exciting five-game preview of the season. Peninsula won, but Godbold said the best matches are yet to be played.

“If we played Mira Costa again, it would be a tossup,” Godbold said. “It was just a measuring stick that we will be challenging in CIF.”

Mira Costa, which advanced to the second round of the playoffs last season after losing all but one starter from its 1990 national championship team, has several talented players returning.

“We’re looking to do excellent in the CIF playoffs,” Mustang Coach Mike Cook said. “That’s our goal and that’s realistic.”

Outside hitter Cameron Green, a 6-foot-5 senior who has strong offensive and passing skills, is being recruited by several colleges.

Neal O’Brien, a 6-1 senior, is the other outside hitter.

Because 6-5 junior Chris Walmer has emerged as a force in the middle, 6-3 Marc Pioch and 6-7 Eric Klootwyk, both of whom have been starters, are expected to compete for one middle blocking spot.

Zane Smyth, a 6-3 junior, and Adam Cady, a 5-11 senior, will compete for the job of setter. The other starter is expected to be 6-2 Matt Walker.

The Mustangs’ are favored to win the Ocean League, which includes Culver City, Redondo, Morningside and Beverly Hills.

However, Cook is more concerned about the playoffs. A strong nonleague schedule includes matches against 4-A powers Newport Harbor (No. 1), Santa Barbara (No. 2), Loyola (No. 3) and Edison (No. 4).

“We’re not ditching anyone,” Cook said.

If there is a strike against Peninsula, it is the strength of its schedule. But with several players from Miraleste, Rolling Hills and Palos Verdes highs playing together for the first time, intrasquad games have been anything but mundane.

“Without the consolidation, everyone would be starting at their old school,” Godbold said. “They easily could be all-leaguers at their old schools.”

Godbold has only seniors on the team. With that, he said, comes pressure.

“There’s an expectation for these incredible athletic teams,” he said. “In some cases it holds true. In most cases it doesn’t.”

But Peninsula appears to have reason for optimism.

Although he is only 5-9, Satao Minami may be Peninsula’s best starter. Minami, a setter who excels as a defender, was named the most valuable player at the Redondo tournament. The Panthers also have size in 6-5 twins Darren and Steve Gable. Darren, a left-hander, starts opposite Minami. Steve, a right-hander, starts in the middle along with 6-3 Evan Barth. Brett Cravatt, 6-2, and Craig Roy, 5-10, are the team’s best outside hitters.

“We need to tighten our defense and improve our blocking,” Godbold said. “Without our defense we will be a very good team. With it, who knows how far we can go.”

Trying to stop the favored Panthers in Pioneer League play will be difficult, but Torrance, North Torrance, South Torrance and West Torrance will give it their best shot. North and South shared the title last season.

North returns only one starter, 6-3 middle blocker Jared Meyer. The Saxons lost team captain Robbie Ohashi for an undetermined amount of time because of a broken left foot. Quoc Vuong, a senior right-side hitter, sprained an ankle but is expected to return soon.

Outside hitters Robert Morgan and Jimmy Vuong will handle a majority of the passing duties.

South returns six starters. Six-foot Greg Bracy and 6-foot Albert Lee play in the middle and 5-10 Ken Estrella, 6-1 Rob Spencer and 6-foot Stuart Murrey are on the outside. Sean Terwillenger, a 5-10 senior, will start at setter. Spencer is replacing Greg Williams, a 6-2 senior who injured his back.

Torrance struggled last season and has a new coach in Robert Kutsch. The Tartars also lack experienced players.

Senior outside hitters Mike Dickson, John Ju and Kevin Jones and senior middle blocker San Kim have emerged as team leaders.

Sophomore Brian Villapudua will start at setter, his first season at the position. Sophomore Jake Beahan will be at the other middle blocker.

“We’re not real tall,” Kutsch said. “We don’t block a lot of balls, but we play good defense around it.”

West Torrance has height but lacks experience.

Gavin Cunningham, a 6-5 senior, and Gary Lyons, a 6-3 senior, will start at middle blocker. The outside hitters will be Mark Hershberg, a 6-3 junior, and Mike Marconi, a 5-8 senior. Steve Karner, a 6-foot junior, will start at setter with hitter Clive Shieh, a 5-8 senior, playing opposite.

“I think overall we have a great chance (to win league) if we pass well,” Coach Mike Barker said.

Redondo returns only two starters but has height.

Neal Palmer, a 6-1 senior, Arthur Chan, a 6-3 senior and Scott Moore, a 5-11 junior, will start at outside hitter. Josh Miller, a 6-7 senior, and Ryan Tucker, a 6-3 junior, will be middle blockers and Seth Vorland, a 6-1 senior, will be the setter.

Bishop Montgomery, ranked No. 7 in 3-A, will be pressed in the Mission League by Notre Dame and Crespi. Bishop will be led by 6-2 senior setter Jason Sevilla, who Coach Mark McGinnis said “is one of the best setters in CIF.”

Jason Kirsnis, a 5-10 junior, will also be a setter and 6-2 seniors John Zimmerman and Marcus Almaraz will be middle blockers. Starting at outside hitters are 6-1 senior Jake Kerby and 5-8 senior Jake Roehl.

Bishop Montgomery won the league title the past nine seasons, but lost two league matches in 1991 before advancing to the quarterfinals of the Southern Section playoffs.

“Our strength is cohesiveness,” McGinnis said. “They are all best friends. They have been playing together for three or four years. They work really well together.”

Much of Bishop’s defensive leadership comes from Jared Younger and Scott Rommesser, two jump-serving back-row specialists.

“Our defense has the ability to frustrate a big team.”

Chadwick, No. 8 in the 2-A preseason poll, also has several talented players. The Dolphins enter their first season in the Santa Fe League after going 15-5 as an independent in 1991.

Several soccer players, including All-Southern Section selection Chris Lui and Ethan Boyd, have tried out for the team. Both players are junior setters.

Max Sloves, 6-3, and Adam Ferris, 6-1, start in the middle. Colby Durnin, 5-11, and Russell Davidson, 5-11, play on the outside.

“The possibility of making the playoffs looks good,” Coach Pete Field said.

Chadwick, was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last season. Field predicts a better outcome this year.

“They’ve been to the dance before and they know what’s going on,” he said.

Among City Section teams, Narbonne will be favored to retain its Pacific League title. Carson and Banning are lacking experienced players.

The Pilots will start junior hitters Ronald Manasala, John Reid and Jeremy Rol and senior Michael Madrano. Junior Anthony Martinez and senior Juan Mercado will set the offense.

Banning’s program was going to be eliminated before Dave DeLaby agreed to coach. “They realize they almost didn’t have a team,” DeLaby said. “So they’re real eager to learn.”

Carson Coach Jay Park said the Colts are physically talented but have struggled with passing and concentration.

“Physically, we are good,” he said. “But mentally, we need help.”

Carson’s lineup includes hitters Chris Vaimili and Sipou Mareko, setters Shannon Saisi and Chris Bui and middle blockers George Sauvau and either David Ford or Nelson Tuatogaloa.