Boys’ volleyball: Mira Costa upsets Loyola in five

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Manhattan Beach Mira Costa has won the CIF Southern Section Division 1 boys volleyball championship, outlasting Los Angeles Loyola, 25-19, 25-22, 25-27, 21-25, 15-12, in a thrilling final at Cypress College.

The third-seeded Mustangs (32-4) took a 14-10 lead in the decisive fifth set but the top-seeded Cubs didn’t go down without a fight, staving off two match points, the second on an ace by Nick Porterfield. However, he served the next point into the net, setting forth a wild celebration as Mira Costa fans stormed the court.

‘In games three and four we dug ourselves huge holes and clawed our way back, but we couldn’t finish them,’ Mira Costa Coach Mike Longacre said. ‘In the fifth, we took care of our side and I told the guys play longer than the other team. It’s nice to win like this so no can say we didn’t play the best teams.’

It was the Mustangs’ seventh section title and first since 2008. Loyola has won 11 CIF crowns.

-- Steve Galluzzo