Spartan Beach Volleyball Has Strong Showing at State Championship Weekend

At the CCCAA Women's Beach Volleyball State Championships there are two parts, the team championship, which was held on Thursday, and the pairs championship, which was held on Friday and Saturday.  The MiraCosta College women's beach volleyball team was well represented in both events.  On Thursday in pool play the Spartans won a close match against Irvine Valley College (3-2) and then dominated Sierra College (5-0).  Madison Anderson and Violeti Faleumu were impressive in their two game win against Irvine Valley (21-11, 21-18).  Reilly Bosworth and Halie Hess also made strong contributions finishing undefeated at the 5's flight. The wins versus Irvine Valley and Sierra catapulted MiraCosta into the finals against Cabrillo Colllege for a chance at winning their second State Championship in as many years. 

In the finals MiraCosta ran into a talented team that won the first two flights in close games.  In the 1's flight sophomores Claire Kinder and Chloe Tripp lost an epic battle. After trailing by eight points in the third and final game they rallied back but couldnt surpass the Cabrillo 1's team losing by a final score of 12-15.  As their third game ended the remaining games that were still playing were ended immediately, MiraCosta was came up short but finished with their heads held high as the 2nd Place team in the CCCAA State Championships.

On the second day there were three Spartan duos participating in the Pairs State Championship tournament.  Lana Salazar/Celin MacDonald, Michelle Mason/Claudia Mathews, and Claire Kinder/Chloe Tripp all had a short turnaround from the team competition on Thursday but showed up ready. The format involved pool play and then the top two pairs from each pool moved forward to a 16 team single elimination bracket.  Mason/Mathews and Kinder/Tripp both won their bracket and moved forward to the bracket play.  Both Spartan pairs played with incredible focus and energy winning in the round of 16 and the round of eight.  With the semi-finals set, MiraCosta had two teams in the Final Four.  Despite the hopes for an all Spartan final, both teams ended their seasons in the semi-finals.

The team ends their season with a final record of 18-5, 2nd Place in the State, a conference Pairs Championship (Mason/Mathews) and a Final Four showing for two individual pairs.   

MiraCosta vs. Irvine Valley (MCC 3-2)

Kinder/Tripp def Koawaloa/Ramseyer (21-18, 21-18)

Aguilar/Bath def Mason/Mathews (21-12, 21-17)

Austin/Salaya def MacDonald/Salazar (22-20, 18-21, 15-13)

Anderson/Faleumu def Entesari/Lau (21-11, 21-18)

Bosworth/Hess def Brogan/Vortoonee (21-19, 21-16)

MiraCosta vs. Sierra (MCC 4-0)

Kinder/Tripp def Schell/Schroeder (21-16, 23-21)

Mason/Mathews def Merlino/Strickland (21-12, 21-18)

MacDonald/Salazar def Rowland/Shinn (21-19, 21-17)

Anderson/Faleumu       Lemmo/Grace (21-9, 20-22, third game not started)

Bosworth/Hess def Boerstra/Orteza (21-19, 21-16)