Boys volleyball: Emotions high in Mesa’s sweep

Richard Dunn

COSTA MESA - Even though half of the starting lineup for Costa Mesa

High’s boys volleyball team “had never touched a volleyball before

February,” Mustangs Coach Dave Sorrells cringes when he thinks “if only

...”

If only the Mustangs played in the Golden West League this year,

instead of beginning next year, and not in the powerful Pacific Coast

League with Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach and Northwood.

Following the host Mustangs’ sweep over PCL and crosstown rival

Estancia, 15-3, 15-13, 15-7, Sorrells said his squad (10-8, 2-6 in the PCL) “would win the Golden West League this year” ... if only there was

such a scenario.

As it is, the Mustangs will finish the league campaign next week

against juggernauts CdM (Tuesday at home) and Laguna Beach (Thursday on

the road), but Sorrells viewed Friday’s important 10th win of the season

as an opportunity for Costa Mesa to gain an at-large CIF Southern Section

Division IV playoff berth.

“We’ve got CdM and Laguna Beach next week and we’re going to give them

hell,” Sorrells said. “We’re not going to go quietly. Maybe we can pull

something off.

“Even so, with our 10th win, I’m sure we can get into CIF. If we get

an at-large berth and don’t have to play a top seed, there’s a good

chance we can win a (match) or two. Some people might be surprised.”

Costa Mesa, which defeated Estancia in five games in the first round

of league, stormed the court early against the Eagles (4-12, 0-8),

building a 10-1 lead before anyone got their seat warm.

In the second game, Estancia had a chance to put Costa Mesa away with

an 11-10 lead and momentum, but unforced errors allowed the Mustangs to

come back.

“We’re an all-sophomore team and a freshman,” Estancia Coach Tracey

Heims said. “And, because of that, we lack experience, so we’re hot and

cold. They take everything personal. They try so hard, but sometimes we

just come out a little flat ... if you can’t hit and can’t handle the

ball, you can’t get any rhythm going. But we got some rhythm going in the

second game.”

You know the coach has a positive attitude when you check the team’s

record and she still says: “I’m so blessed to have this team.”

Sorrells admitted that Estancia’s future in the Golden West League

could be brighter than his own squad’s, because three of first-year

players -- Andrew Strickland, Tony Valle and Jeff Collett -- are seniors.

“The problem with my guys is that we don’t have any strong leaders and

we don’t have a lot of maturity,” Sorrells said, when asked about the

difference of his team’s play in the first and second games. “I’m

constantly working a fine line. If I was at Northwood, I’d just have to

throw the balls out and you’re in the CIF playoffs.”

Carlos Jaime led Mesa with his best match of the season (15 kills, 16

digs and two stuff blocks), while the 6-foot-4 Collett had six stuff

blocks, five kills, 10 digs and served for the first time this season. It

was also Collett’s first time playing in the back row.

“And it was the first time Strickland and Valle played in the front

row,” Sorrells said. “It was a different lineup, because we were missing

two guys ... I might have to keep this lineup. Sometimes less is more.”

Josh Kornegay, a 6-2 sophomore middle blocker, led Estancia with 12

kills, while sophomore teammate Scott Sankey, a 6-4 middle blocker, had

six kills and four blocks. Brad Larsen had five kills for the Eagles.