Mesa moves into semis

LOS ALTOS ? With a strong traveling crowd in tow, Costa Mesa High played some of its best volleyball of the season at the right time.

The Mustangs rolled in the first game and held on to defeat Los Altos, 25-6, 25-23, 21-25, 25-22, in a CIF Southern Section Division III boys’ volleyball quarterfinal match Friday night.

Costa Mesa, the No. 2 seed in Division III, moves on to Wednesday’s semifinals against No. 3 seed Orange Lutheran. The site for the semifinal will be determined by coin flip today.

“We came out on fire,” first-year Mustangs’ Coach Chris Komer said of the first game. “We haven’t seen a score like that, not even in league.”

Ryan Bagwell and Will Lefebvre led a balanced attack with Bagwell tallying 15 kills and Lefebvre adding 14 kills for the Mustangs (22-5). Andrew Melcer dished out 48 assists and Tony Krikorian recorded 15 digs in the victory.

Orange Lutheran, the defending Division III champion, swept San Gabriel, 25-19, 25-16, 25-23, to earn its spot in the semifinals.

No. 1 seed Santa Monica and unseeded Downey will meet in the other semifinal. Santa Monica swept Garey and Downey defeated Palos Verdes ? which upset No. 4 seed Estancia earlier this week ? in three games.