Mustangs are flying high

Before the match started, everything seemed to point toward an Estancia High victory over Costa Mesa in the teams’ Golden West League boys’ volleyball match on Friday.

Costa Mesa was slated to be short-handed with two starters out. Estancia was not only healthy coming into the match; it had the motivation of revenge after losing to Costa Mesa in four games on March 16.

But Costa Mesa outside hitter Will Lefebvre, suffering from a broken finger on his hitting hand, gave the team a boost as a surprise addition to the Mustang starting lineup and senior Tony Krikorian did a solid job replacing setter Andrew Melcer, who is sidelined with mononucleosis.

In the end, though, the difference was Ryan Bagwell, who closed the fifth game with three consecutive service aces, as Costa Mesa emerged with a 25-22, 27-25, 23-25, 14-25, 15-11 victory and a regular-season sweep of Estancia. The Mustangs (13-0, 7-0 in league), ranked second in CIF Southern Section Division III, remain undefeated and in sole possession of first place in the Golden West League.

The Eagles (6-3, 5-2), ranked third in Division III, fought back from a two-game deficit to force a fifth and deciding game. But just when it appeared the Eagles had the momentum and were going to shock the Mustangs on their home court by winning three straight games, Bagwell took over.

In the fifth game, the Mustangs trailed, 7-3, after two unforced errors. They battled back to tie the score, then Bagwell’s block gave the Mustangs a 10-9 lead ? their first of the game.

Bagwell, who tallied the last six points of the fifth game for the Mustangs, traded kills with both Shaun and Scott Markley before closing the game with three aces, all of which had a little extra zip compared to his previous serves. His last serve hit the top of the net and fell to the floor on Estancia’s side. Bagwell finished with six aces and 16 kills ? both team highs.

“I pretty much put whatever I had left into those last serves,” Bagwell said. “But I got lucky on that last one.”

It marked the first time this group of Costa Mesa players has ever swept the regular-season series against Estancia.

“It feels amazing,” Bagwell said. “My heart was pumping hard the whole match.”

Lefebvre, who missed the last couple of matches, contributed a much-needed 12 kills for the Mustangs.

“I felt my team needed me today, of all games,” Lefebvre said.

The Mustangs led for most of the first game, which Bagwell capped with a kill. Estancia started to turn it on in the second game. The Eagles took a 25-24 lead on a Scott Markley kill. But two consecutive kills by Lefebvre put the Mustangs up, 26-25. Lefebvre and Ryan French combined for a block to close out the game.

Estancia middle blocker Dallas Kopp became more of a factor in the third and fourth games, helping take the scoring load off Shaun and Scott Markley by tallying eight of his 14 kills and all three of his blocks.

In the third game, Bagwell’s kill tied the score, 23-23, but Scott Markley responded with a kill to give the lead to Estancia, which got the win on an unforced error by Costa Mesa.

Kopp’s dominance in the middle and the outside hitting of Shaun Markley (team-high 15 kills) and Scott Markley (14 kills) led to a lopsided game four win.

“Our guys showed great toughness coming back and pushing it to a fifth game,” Estancia Coach Mark Cygan said.

Kopp’s kill and some early unforced errors by Costa Mesa helped Estancia take a 7-3 lead in game five before the Mustangs rallied.

“I think we relaxed and took it easy a little bit [after the first two games],” Costa Mesa Coach Chris Komer said. “We beat them in four games last time and I think the guys were thinking they’d do the same this time.”

Facing a fifth game, the Mustangs pulled together just in time.

“This team has a never-say-die attitude,” Komer said. “They always fight back no matter who they are playing. We were playing with our backup setter and our offense was a little off at times, but this team never ceases to amaze.”dpt-volley08.IMG0GraphicInfoM51PP6DI20060408M51PP6DINo Captiondpt-volley08.IMGGraphicInfoM51PP6DG20060408M51PP6DGNo Captiondpt.08-vb-cm-est-1-CPhotoInfoMF1PP65Q20060408ixdsa3ncMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Costa Mesa High outside hitter Will Lefebvre (4) hits over the block of Estancia’s Alex LaGrand in the second game of Friday’s Golden West League match at Costa Mesa High. Lefebvre played with a broken finger and had 12 kills for the Mustangs, who won in five games to stay undefeated this season. It was the second victory for the Mustangs in two league meetings with the Eagles this season, marking the first sweep of their crosstown rival in at least four years. Costa Mesa is two games ahead of three-time defending champion Estancia in the Golden West League standings with five league matches remaining.dpt.08-vb-cm-est-4-CPhotoInfoMF1PP64520060408ixdskmncMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Costa Mesa’s Ryan Bagwell, left, and Tony Krikorian celebrate their game two victory over Estancia during Friday’s match.