Whether Mira Costa holds the mantle of the best high school volleyball program in the United States remains a point of spirited debate, but the Mustangs removed any uncertainty regarding their regional dominance on Friday night. In a clinical display of power and precision, Mira Costa defeats Loyola for the Southern Section boys’ volleyball title, sweeping the Cubs 25-21, 25-22, 25-22 at Cerritos College to secure back-to-back Division 1 championships.
The victory marks the 10th section title in program history and reinforces a legacy of excellence in one of the most competitive volleyball landscapes in the country. While the scoreline suggests a blowout, the match was a tactical battle fought in the margins, decided by a few critical serves and the overwhelming presence of a generational talent at the net.
UCLA-bound Mateo Fuerbringer arrived at the match with a point to prove and a level of intensity that Loyola struggled to match from the opening whistle. The 6-foot-4 junior hitter dominated the early tempo, ending the first three rallies with thunderous kills and shutting down the fourth with a commanding stuff block. By the time the first set reached its conclusion, Fuerbringer had already tallied 12 kills, ensuring Mira Costa maintained the lead from start to finish.
Coach Greg Snyder, who has led the Mustangs to the finals in each of his three seasons as head coach, noted that Fuerbringer’s evolution as a player has left opponents with few options. “He’s always had the IQ, now you add the power on top of that?” Snyder said. “There are no answers. It’s a deadly combination. Mateo has no weaknesses.”
A Battle of Momentum and Precision
The second set saw a tighter contest, with the two powerhouses trading leads in a seesaw battle. The deadlock finally broke late in the frame when Fuerbringer and Enzo Barker delivered a series of critical serves that created the necessary separation. The set—and the momentum—shifted decisively toward the Mustangs when Loyola’s Pax Stetson served into the twine, handing Mira Costa a two-set lead.
Loyola, the third-seeded Cubs, refused to concede in the final frame. They surged to a 17-11 lead in the third set, threatening to push the match into a fourth. However, Mira Costa regained control behind an ace from Barker to bring the score to 20-19. Fuerbringer then sealed the championship with a right-side smash that sent the green-and-white clad supporters into a frenzy.
Fuerbringer finished the night with 27 kills, but the effort was a collective triumph. Barker and UC Santa Barbara commit Wyatt Davis each contributed six kills, while Mater Dei transfer Jake Newman orchestrated the offense with 38 assists. Defensively, Dane Del Riego anchored the back row with 15 digs.
“I always try to set the tone and Jake gave me great sets,” Fuerbringer said. “They were bombing serves in that third set and got up on us, but we stuck with it and closed it strong. We didn’t want to give them any momentum.”
Overcoming a Historic Rivalry
The victory is particularly sweet given the historical volatility of the Mira Costa-Loyola matchup. The Mustangs now hold a 10-8 record in finals and this marks only the second time in school history they have won back-to-back titles, the first occurring in Division 2 during the 2001 and 2002 seasons. In head-to-head championship meetings, Mira Costa trails Loyola slightly, holding a 2-3 record in finals.
The road to this title was paved with redemption. Earlier this season, on March 21, the two teams—then ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation—engaged in a grueling two-and-a-half-hour marathon in Manhattan Beach. In that contest, Mira Costa rallied from a two-set deficit to win 15-11 in the fifth, a match where Fuerbringer recorded a staggering 37 kills.
| Key Contributor | School | Stat/Commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Mateo Fuerbringer | Mira Costa | 27 Kills / UCLA Bound |
| Jake Newman | Mira Costa | 38 Assists |
| JP Wardy | Loyola | 13 Kills / Pepperdine Bound |
| Rafa Milchan | Loyola | 12 Kills |
| Blake Fahlbusch | Loyola | 9 Kills / USC Bound |
Loyola’s effort was led by Pepperdine commit JP Wardy and Rafa Milchan, who combined for 25 kills. However, Mira Costa’s defensive scheme specifically targeted Loyola’s catalyst, senior captain Blake Fahlbusch. The USC-bound Fahlbusch was held to just nine kills, a result of the Mustangs’ ability to read Loyola’s offensive tendencies.
“We know where everyone wants to swing and we know Blake’s their catalyst,” Snyder explained. “When they need a kill they usually go to him.”
Section-Wide Results and Future Outlook
While the Division 1 clash stole the headlines, the CIF Southern Section championships featured drama across other divisions. In the Division 4 final, Sunny Hills secured its second title since the program’s 2020 inception, defeating Royal in a four-set thriller, 24-26, 25-22, 27-25, 25-23. Owen Filadelfia led the Lancers with 18 kills and eight digs, while Parker Mesnik contributed 47 assists.
For Mira Costa, the celebration will be brief. Having won the inaugural Division I state championship last spring, the Mustangs are now focused on defending that crown. If the team continues its current trajectory—having won 10 straight matches since a late March loss to Redondo Union—they could potentially equal their historic 37-2 record from 2025.
The Mustangs will begin their quest for a repeat state title this coming Tuesday night, following the release of regional seedings on Sunday afternoon. For the Mira Costa community, the goal is no longer just section dominance, but a permanent place at the top of the national rankings.
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