Mustangs roll

Steve Virgen

All they needed was a timeout and the sleeping giant that was the

visiting Costa Mesa High girls volleyball team woke up and dominated

on its way to a 15-7, 15-0, 15-3 Golden West League victory over

crosstown rival Estancia Wednesday.

The Mustangs (10-2, 9-0 in league), who were 2-12, 2-8 in the

Pacific Coast League last year, are one victory away from clinching

the Golden West League title, which would be the first league

championship in the program’s history.

Trailing, 7-4, after Estancia senior Tori Girod recorded a service

ace, Costa Mesa Coach Allison Salladin stood up from the bench and

called a timeout. That was key. From that point on, the Mustangs

outscored the Eagles, 41-3, including a 15-0 Game 2 win. Costa Mesa

did not have to call a timeout again.

“We always start out really slow,” Salladin said. “It’s something

that we’re working on. It ends up with us being dominating when we do

wake up. I called the timeout and told them to settle down, and ‘you

know you can take control of this game.’”

After Salladin’s timeout, the Mustangs earned sideout because

Estancia committed a four-hit violation. With senior Kristen Bagwell

serving, the Mustangs scored three straight points and caught the

Eagles at 7. The teams traded sideouts and then Mesa junior Stacy

Krikorian served for four straight points.

Later in the opening game, Mesa sophomore Jackie Havens served for

two straight points, including one ace, as did senior Devin Denman.

Senior Sharon Day, the defending CIF State high jump champion, closed

out the game with one of her match-high 14 kills. Day also had three

service aces in Game 1, and she also recorded two stuff blocks.

In addition to Day, Bagwell also contributed to the Mustangs’

winning effort. Bagwell recorded nine kills, while sophomore setter

Jenny Sparks delivered 20 assists.

Day, Bagwell, Denman and Sparks led the Mustangs to their 15-0

Game 2 victory. Estancia (2-9, 2-12) earned six sideouts throughout

the game, but Costa Mesa constantly won back the ball. From a 5-0

lead, Denman served for eight straight points to up the lead to 13-0.

Then came the longest rally of the night.

The Eagles won the rally, as Girod slammed an unassisted kill to

set off cheers from the Estancia fans. Wednesday was a special night

for Estancia seniors, Girod, Lucia Flores, Dustinne Lau, Kate Nelson

and Laura Morton. They played their final home match and there was a

ceremony before the action got underway.