Mira Costa denied Newport Harbor from repeating as champion at Santa Barbara High’s Karch Kiraly Tournament of Champions on Saturday at J.R. Richards Gym.
The Mustangs got solid passing to run a fast, diversified attack and took down the Sailors 3-1. The scores were 25-21, 25-18, 21-25, 25-16.
Host Santa Barbara finished fourth in the 16-team tournament. The Dons lost in four sets to Newport Harbor in the semifinals (25-20, 25-19, 22-25, 25-23) and fell in four against Chicago’s Marist High in the third-place match (20-25, 25-21, 25-23, 26-24).
Mira Costa’s title win gave it the edge over Newport Harbor in their three meetings this season. The Mustangs won a 2-0 match in a best-of-three final at the Best of the West Tournament and lost a non-league contest in five sets.
With Newport Harbor ranked No. 3 and Mira Costa No. 4 in the latest CIF-SS Division 1-2 poll, it’s very possible the teams could meet again for the Division 1 title.
Mira Costa was led by senior Victor Loiola, a high-flying outside hitter who’s headed to Long Beach State. The tournament MVP was the go-to player for setters Jett Bathurst and Andrew Chapin.
Outside hitters Cooper Keane and Stone Seligson and libero Johnny Dykstra of the Mustangs were chosen to the all-tournament team.
Newport Harbor got a strong performance from sophomore outside hitter Henry Clemo. He made the all-tournament team along with teammates Walker Vaicek (libero) and Grayson Springborn (setter).
The Sailors were without UC Santa Barbara signee Riggs Guy, who was sidelined with an illness.
Also selected to the all-tournament team were Will Harman and Dana Whitney of Santa Barbara and Luke Brannigan and Nathan Todd of Marist.
Marist coach Jordan Vidovic has some notoriety in volleyball. In 2006, the Illinois native became the first player outside of California to be named the USA Volleyball Beach Tour Player of the Year.
Mira Costa broke the first set open with a 6-1 run to take a 23-17 lead. The Mustangs scored five straight points to go up 23-16 in the second set en route to a 2-0 advantage.
Newport Harbor took a 17-16 lead in the third set and never looked back. Outsides Clemo and Chandler Swanson and middle Jack Berry made big plays during the Sailors’ surge.
Mira Costa regrouped and wore down Newport Harbor in the fourth set.
It was Mira Costa’s first Karch Kiraly TOC title since 2013. The Mustangs lost to Burbank-Burroughs in the 2022 final.