Coaches friendly rivals

COSTA MESA — The crosstown boys’ volleyball rivalry between Costa Mesa High and Estancia no longer revolves around one city.

This season, first-year coaches Paul Muñoz (Estancia) and Beau Peters (Costa Mesa) bring a history of familiarity with one another that transcends competition.

Peters came away with inaugural bragging rights between the two childhood friends, Huntington Beach natives and former club volleyball teammates, as the host Mustangs posted a 25-20, 25-15, 19-25, 25-18 victory in the Orange Coast League opener Tuesday.

It was also the first win this season for the Mustangs (2-1), who have a depleted schedule and played their first match with an interim coach at the helm, before Peters took over.

“The difference between my first match [as coach] and this match was like night and day,” said Peters, who played collegiately at UCLA and was a junior on the Bruins NCAA championship team in 2006. “Volleyball is a very technical sport and a game of inches. So, a little something here and there that isn’t extraordinarily difficult to change can make a world of difference.”

Peters said one of his points of emphasis in practice was blocking footwork and the crash course helped the Mustangs produce a 10-3 advantage in team blocks.

The presence of 6-foot-7 junior middle blocker Andrew Albers (four solo blocks and one block assist) also didn’t hurt the hosts, who clearly enjoyed a height and experience advantage.

Senior outside hitter Connor Metcalfe had 19 kills to pace the Mustangs hitters, who benefited from the hustle and hands of senior setter Jose Faboreno (33 assists).

Senior outside hitter Corbin Randall had nine kills, while Albers added six and senior middle blocker Eric Ronquillo chipped in four. Ronquillo had two blocks and two block assists, while Metcalfe had one block and two block assists.Senior outside hitter Kohl Jones led the Eagles with 12 kills. Senior middle blockers Jim Nelson and Jordan Cash had five kills apiece for Estancia (3-10), which received 24 assists from setter Dylan Gaitan.

Estancia had 17 service errors and only one ace, while Mesa had four aces, but missed 18 serves.

The play was, at times, sloppy, as both teams are comprised primarily of players lacking club experience.

“We have some good players and the guys who are not such volleyball players are athletes who come to practice and work extremely hard,” Peters said. “We have our big guns in Connor and Corbin, who carry us, and the other guys do a very nice job of complementing them.

“[Faboreno] is a very talented athlete who does a very nice job for us. He’s not the tallest guy, but he has a very big heart, he’s very quick and he delivers a nice ball.”

Muñoz, a former libero at Long Beach State who spent time in the U.S. national team program and played professionally abroad, said he is challenged daily by the chore of educating his players about the game.

“Right now, we lack consistency,” Muñoz said. “Our guys are so raw and immature with volleyball. We have a lot of first-year players, so there is a lot of teaching to be done.”

Both coaches will likely console another about their coaching challenges.

“I grew up with Beau, who is practically family,” Muñoz said. “We grew up in Huntington Beach and we played for the same clubs. It makes it so much more exciting when we play [Costa Mesa]. Now, I have a rivalry. I get to coach against somebody I know.”

Peters agreed.

“It’s fun building not only a crosstown rivalry, but doing it against such a good friend,” Peters said.