Mira Costa Proves Too Tall an Order for Thousand Oaks

MANHATTAN BEACH —  At one end of the gym at Mira Costa High, there’s a mural that blends together volleyball, basketball, football, track and other sports in a hazy, psychedelic creation that screams ‘70s.

A clearer picture took place on the court Tuesday as Mira Costa dominated the Thousand Oaks boys’ volleyball team, 15-5, 15-6, 15-1, in a second-round match of the Southern Section Division I playoffs.

Thousand Oaks, which finished second in the competitive Marmonte League, was left wiping its eyes.

“We haven’t played against a team this caliber before,” said outside hitter David Grimm, who had a team-best six kills. “The first couple of points, we were like, ‘Whoa.’ ”

That’s when the Lancers (11-5) were introduced to 6-foot-10 Adam Naeve, who had little trouble hitting the ball over any and all block attempts.

Naeve, a junior, finished with 19 kills despite limited action in the third game. More important, he had zero hitting errors for Mira Costa (18-2).

Thousand Oaks felt the pain from Naeve and Brent Griebenow (16 kills), but the costliest injury was a self-inflicted one: the inability to pass.

Time after time, Mira Costa’s serves were mishandled, sending the Lancers’ offense chasing the ball all over the floor.

The Lancers’ best run, which brought them to within 7-6 in the second game, was ruined by poor passing.

Goodbye passing, goodbye game plan, goodbye match.

“We felt as though we had prepared ourselves for their weakness,” said Thousand Oaks Coach James Park. “We were supposed to pass the ball enough to get to the middle, but we just couldn’t pass.”

Despite a thumb injury that sidelined setter Nick Schneider, Mira Costa, the second-ranked team in Division I, passed, set and spiked extremely efficiently.

“We’re a good team, frankly,” said Cook, in his 16th year at Mira Costa. “We can win it all.”

The Lancers, who exited to a standing ovation from their fans after a 15-minute postmatch meeting in the locker room, learned something from the match.

“We gave our all, and sometimes it doesn’t come out the way you want it,” said Grimm, one of several key players who will return. “Next year, it’s a new season.”