The Coronado Islanders boys’ volleyball team picked up their 14th win of the season this past week with a 3-0 victory over Mira Mesa: 25-20, 25-15, 25-13. Moving them to 4-2, they were in sole possession of first place in the city Eastern League standings.
In the first set, Coronado jumped out to an early 12-6 advantage, with the early run being highlighted by an ace and a pair of kills from junior Cameron Lenert. The lead would eventually hit 16-9 as Ryder Moore helped push things forward with a kill and ace of his own.
Mira Mesa would claw their way back into the set, cutting things to just a three-point deficit at 23-20. Fortunately, both Lenert and Moore would strike again, generating back-to-back kills and securing the first set for Coronado 25-20.
In the second set, Coronado again used a scoring run to jump ahead early. The Islanders would get an excellent string of service points from junior Aidan Arendt, leading to two unforced error from Mira Mesa, and kills from Moore and Logan Berk. Making it a 7-3 Islanders lead.
That four-point lead would soon expand to eight, thanks to the Islanders’ strong play in the middle of the set, anchored by a block and a kill from Jackson McMullen, to make it an 18-10 second-set lead.
Finally, to finish out the second set, Coronado would be the beneficiary of a kill from Lenert and a slew of unforced errors by Mira Mesa. Clinching the second set 25-15 for Coronado.
The third and final set of the Islanders’ match against Mira Mesa started off quite tight. After 24 points, Coronado held just a 12-11 lead. With it looking like Mira Mesa may be able to force a fourth set, Coronado turned on the jets, going on a 13-2 run to close out the set.
Gage Gilby would be stellar while on serve, helping Coronado win seven straight points and recording two aces in the process. As a part of the run, the Islanders continued their block party with another block coming from McMullen. The mid-set run would allow the islanders to cruise to the eventual 25-13 set victory. Locking in the 3-0 win.
The Islanders will return to action this week with road games against University City on April 22nd and Mission Bay on April 24th.
VOL. 115, NO. 17 – April 23, 2025