Mira Costa's girls' beach volleyball team proved once again why they are the undisputed queens of the sand, sweeping JSerra 5-0 to reclaim the Southern Section Division 1 championship title on Saturday at Long Beach City College.
The Mustangs entered the match with a chip on their shoulder after falling to league rival Redondo Union in last spring's finals. But this year's squad, led by a determined group of seniors, was on a mission to finish their high school careers on top.
Nowhere was that resolve more evident than in the showdown at the No. 1 position. Stanford-bound seniors Ruby Cochrane and Olga Nikolaeva found themselves in a battle, trailing JSerra's top duo of Sara Moynihan and Emma Champagne 13-9 in the decisive third set. But instead of folding, the pair dug deep, rattling off six consecutive points to complete the comeback and seal the sweep.
"We wanted to end our senior year with a bang and not be the only pair to lose," Cochrane said after the match, as teammates celebrated by passing around the championship plaque and kissing it in a show of team unity.
The victory marks Mira Costa's third CIF-SS title in four seasons since the sport was officially sanctioned in 2023, and when you factor in the eight Interscholastic Beach Volleyball League championships the program won before that, it's clear this is a dynasty built on sand.
The Mustangs' depth was on full display, as their other four tandems each cruised to straight-set victories. Allyn Hilt and Lily Sprague held down the No. 2 spot, followed by Lily Vandeweghe and Lucy Matuszak at No. 3, Sofia Sala and Samantha Nammack at No. 4, and Lily Enfield and Lerin Rosenthal closing things out at No. 5.
Mira Costa's dominance is staggering. The Mustangs improved to 24-1 on the season and boast a remarkable 75-3 record in four years of CIF Southern Section competition. Against teams not named Redondo Union, they are a nearly perfect 67-0. Their 5-0 mark against JSerra this season only underscores their supremacy.
The championship run was especially sweet for a senior class that has been the backbone of the program. "Our coach was like, 'you're capable of coming back,' so we had to do it," Nikolaeva added. "Ruby is one of my best friends and we have a great bond."
In the other Division 1 final, Bishop Montgomery made its first championship appearance a memorable one, edging Edison 3-2. The heroics came from sophomore twins Hailey and Alyssa Waters, who clinched the title with a gritty 13-21, 21-17, 15-12 victory at the No. 5 position. "Being twins causes fighting but we've always played together and our connection makes us stronger," Alyssa said.
For Mira Costa, the message is clear: the queens of the beach are back on top, and they're not planning on giving up the crown anytime soon.