Recap by Loyalist reporter Jordan Pagkalinawan '22
Photos by Brody Hannon '22 HERE
On Saturday (Mar. 19) the Cubs faced off against their crosstown rivals, the Mira Costa Mustangs, in a long-anticipated game between two teams ranked 2nd and 11th in the nation, respectively. Leavey Gym was filled with Loyola supporters, just as many Costa parents, and a handful of Costa students.
Starters:
- Dillon Klein, #8 (6’4”, Sr, OH)
- Ryan Sprague, #9 (6'3", Sr., S)
- Ryan Vena, #34 (6’6”, Sr., MB)
- Luke Morley, #23 (6’3”, Sr., MB)
- Michael Robertson, #20 (6’7”, Sr., OPP)
- Sean Kelly, #12 (6’6”, So., OH)
- Dustin Steinbeck, #21 (6’1”, Jr., L)
Set 1
The Cubs began the first set hot, starting with an ace and going up 4-2 before the Mustangs tied things up with a double block and eventually taking a 6-5 lead. Robertson and Morley teamed up for a big double block at the net to regain the lead at 8-7, and kills from the setter Sprague and outside hitter Kelly made it 10-8 Cubs. Loyola continued to control the first frame, eventually taking a 19-14 lead. Late in the set, Costa had three unanswered points to make it a 20-18 game, and two centerline violations by the Cubs tied things at 20. Loyola rallied to take set point at 24-23, and middle Ryan Vena’s spike off the chest of a Mustang defender gave the Cubs victory in set 1.
- Set Score: 25-23 Loyola (1-0)
Set 2
The Cubs began set 2 the same way they ended set 1: with help from Vena. The 6’6” Princeton commit floated in the air for a dump that put the Cubs on the board first. The Cubs killed the Mustangs with “Klein”-ness, leading 3-2 after another point from the USC-bound outside. It was another back-and-forth set between the teams early, but another Klein shot put Loyola up 5-3. A big kill out of the middle from Morley then put the Cubs up 7-3. Later on, with a six-point lead, sophomore setter and serving sub Cortez Guillermo answered the call, acing a serve to put Loyola up 14-7. The Cubs continued to ride that momentum, scoring three more points punctuated by a double block from Sprague and Vena. Four unanswered Mustang points led to a timeout by head coach Michael Boehle. The Cubs remained unphased, leading 19-15 when a great rally was ended by Klein once again. Costa scored two more points before Morley spiked it down with authority, and a Kelly kill plus a double block from Morley and Sprague put the Cubs up 23-18. Klein had back-to-back kills to put the set away, and the Cubs took the 2-0 lead in the match.
- Set Score: 25-19 Loyola (2-0)
Set 3
The Cubs started the third set with an ace from Klein. Mira Costa worked to regain the lead off a double block and found themselves up 10-9 before Kelly’s crosscourt kill knotted the score at 10. Another Klein ace from behind the service line put the Cubs up 11-10, forcing a Costa timeout. A Sprague block and some heat from the arm of lefty junior opposite Lukas Anderson brought the Cubs up 13-11. After a 14-all tie, the Cubs went on a 7-0 run, which included big kills from the middle Vena and right side Robertson. With the Cubs still in control at 23-16, a stuff at the net from Morley gave Loyola match point. At 24-17, the Mustangs hit the ball out of bounds and the Cubs emerged victorious, sweeping Mira Costa in a sweet victory.
- Set Score: 25-17 Loyola (3-0)
Postgame
Dillon Klein said, “We did well. We could’ve probably improved on the serving and passing, but we got the job done, and that’s all that matters.” He also praised his teammates, saying, “I thought Dustin Steinbeck had a great game. Michael Robertson played great. Everyone on the floor had a great game, and that’s what led us to win.” Finally, after this momentum-boosting game, Klein emphasized the need to get back in the gym in order to keep the energy up for the rest of the season.
Up Next
Loyola and Mira Costa meet again in 10 days (Mar. 29) at Mira Costa for Round 2 of their rivalry. That game is scheduled for 6PM in Manhattan Beach. In between then, the Cubs resume Mission League play by hosting St. Francis (Mar. 22) on Tuesday and travel to Harvard-Westake on Thursday (Mar. 24).