Mira Costa, Redondo advance in CIF Division 1 boys volleyball championships
Dillon Shambaugh and the Mira Costa Mustangs have their sights set on a second straight CIF title. Photo
Top-seeded Mira Costa improved its winning streak to 20 matches Tuesday with a decisive 25-12, 25-10, 25-20 victory over visiting El Toro in the first round of the Division 1 CIF Southern Section/Ford Boys Volleyball Championships.
Casey White led the Mustangs with 13 kills and Riley Mallon recorded 12 kills in the win.
Mira Costa (30-2) will host Harvard Westlake (17-9-1) in the second round Thursday. All playoff games with the exception of the finals are scheduled for 7 p.m. starts unless another time is mutually agreed upon and approved by the CIF.
The winner of Thursday’s match will play the winner between No. 7 St. John Bosco and No. 9 Corona del Mar in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Semifinals matches will be played Wednesday with championship matches held at Santiago College Canyon on Saturday, May 18. Mira Costa is seeking its second straight and eighth CIF championship.
Eight-seeded Redondo eliminated Northwood 26-24, 25-23, 25-20 in its first-round match. Vinny Pizutti and Louis Richard had 13 kills apiece for the Sea Hawks.
Redondo (21-11) hosts No. 10 Westlake (23-6) in the second round Thursday. The winner will most likely meet No. 2 Loyola in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Bay League runner-up Palos Verdes swept visiting Mission Viejo 25-21, 25-16, 25-18. The sixth-seeded Sea Kings (28-6) play at Mater Dei Thursday with the winner facing the San Clemente-Newport Harbor victory on Saturday.
West Torrance earned a wild-card berth but lost to Alemany 25-20, 21-25, 25-21, 26-14 on Monday.
Vinny Pizutti and his Redondo teammates are looking for a deep run in the Division 1 CIF Southern Section playoffs. Photo
In Division 2, all three teams from the Pioneer League enjoyed sweeps in first-round action.
Host El Segundo defeated Burbank 25-17, 25-21, 25-12. The Eagles (16-3) take on No. 4 San Marcos (21-8) in the second round on Thursday.
North Torrance eliminated Eastside in a 25-19, 27-25, 25-19 road victory. The Saxons (16-17) will host top-seeded Esperanza (23-4) on Thursday.
South Torrance (16-11) knocked off St. Joseph of Santa Maria 25-14, 25-15, 25-17 and will face second-seeded Laguna Beach (18-8) in the second round.
In Division 4, second-seeded Bishop Montgomery swept Chadwick 25-21, 25-14, 25-18. The Knights (20-8) advance to face Glenn (19-6) in the second round. Chadwick finished its season with a 13-12 record.
Vistamar eliminated Garey 25-14, 25-18, 25-14 Tuesday. The seventh-seeded Vikings (22-8) play No. 10 Templeton (23-3) on Thursday.