Mira Costa boys' volleyball defeats rival Loyola in a thrilling comeback

Mateo Fuerbringer, center, celebrates with his Mira Costa teammates following a five-set win over visiting Loyola on Friday night. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) The CIF championship was not on the line, but it may as well have been Friday night in the annual boys' volleyball showdown between Mira Costa and Loyola. Showing why they entered their grudge match in Manhattan Beach ranked No.

1 and No. 2 in the country, two of the Southland’s most storied programs battled for five scintillating sets as the host Mustangs rallied for a 18-25, 26-28, 25-22, 25-22, 15-11 win in an instant classic that lasted over two and a half hours. Leading the comeback was junior outside hitter Mateo Fuerbringer, who finished with 37 kills, five blocks and three aces.

Considered the top recruit in the nation, he committed to UCLA in December. Read more: Prep sports roundup: Bishop Alemany takes two of three games vs. Harvard-Westlake “They came out hot and we weren’t playing our best,” said Fuerbringer, whose sister Charlie was a setter for Mira Costa and just wrapped up her sophomore season at Wisconsin, leading the Badgers to the Final Four.

“We knew if we just stayed with it and played out the game we could win it. ” The Mustangs, who won their ninth Southern Section crown last spring and subsequently captured the inaugural Division I state title in Fresno, notched their 15th consecutive victory and improved to 22-1. Wyatt Davis, a senior headed to UC Santa Barbara, added 13 kills and seven blocks and senior opposite hitter Enzo Barker pounded nine kills for top-ranked Mira Costa, which leveled the match at two sets on a right-side kill from Fuerbringer.