Costa

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.

“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.

“We knew they’re a great team,” Davis said of Loyola. “Between sets two and three we made adjustments, guys came off the bench to make key plays, Enzo moved to the outside and we made less errors in the last set. We wanted it more than them.”

Mira Costa’s lone setback came Feb. 21 against Corona del Mar in the Redondo Classic final — a loss the Mustangs avenged four days later. Corona del Mar edged Loyola in the Best of the West semifinals March 7, but Loyola turned the tables on the Sea Kings in nonleague action.

Senior outside hitter and USC signee Blake Fahlbusch led Loyola on Friday with 15 kills and four blocks, senior libero and Loyola Chicago commit Matt Kelly was a whirling dervish on defense, hitter JP Wardy contributed 10 kills and opposite Lucas Posell had nine for the No. 2 Cubs (12-2). Fahlbusch’s brother Thatcher played for Mira Costa and is now a freshman outside hitter at Hawaii.

Mira Costa swept last year’s nonleague meeting at Loyola to end a four-year losing streak to the Cubs, who had handed the Mustangs their first loss in the Best of the West finals. Mira Costa lost only one more match (to Chicago Marist at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions) to finish 37-2 last spring.

The Mustangs are on pace to surpass that win total even after the graduation of Grayson Bradford, now a freshman at UCLA.

“It’s nice having a middle like Wyatt [Davis],” said Mira Costa senior setter Jake Newman, who had 55 assists. “He and Charlie give me great options. It’s a pretty easy concept.”

Loyola holds the section record with 13 titles, the last in 2024 when it beat Mira Costa 25-21, 25-22, 25-21, in the finals behind 15 kills from Sean Kelly, now at UCLA. The teams met three previous times in the finals, Loyola winning in 2005 and 2010 and Mira Costa prevailing in 2012.

“We knew we could do it,” Newman added. “We knew at some point we’d get that spot where we’re playing our best. I started to key in on their blockers to see who was switching on Mateo.”

Coach Greg Snyder, in his third season at Mira Costa, wants to pilot his squad to a repeat but knows it will not be easy.

“The first two sets we were predictable, we were passing poorly, they got us out of system and got a lot of touches on our swings,” Snyder said. “Mateo played great but we were too Mateo-heavy tonight. We have to run that middle because we’re better than them there.”

Snyder fully expects to see Loyola again this season.

“The gym was packed — this got more buildup than when we played them in the finals,” he said. “I felt whoever won tonight should be the No. 1 team in the country and whoever lost should be No. 2.”

A lesser-known Spanish resort is shaping up to be one of the more affordable escapes, with £3 pints and £15 flights, combined with its allure of reliable sunshine and dramatic landscapes

A beautiful Spanish region that enjoys a tropical climate is ‘cheaper than Costa del Sol’ with £3 pints and £15 flights, just three hours from the UK.

Costa del Sol is a popular tourist destination, with the city of Marbella attracting thousands of holidaymakers each year, yet it’s not always the cheapest. While there are more affordable areas to visit in Costa del Sol, there’s another beautiful resort in Spain while worth exploring, and it could save you almost £300.

Known as the ‘desert coast’, Costa de Almería offers almost year-round sunshine and is one of the driest climates on the continent, so you’ll rarely need to worry about the weather. With stunning volcanic beaches, azure waters and desert landscapes, it’s a haven for travellers seeking a quieter escape from the tourist crowds.

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Often overlooked by Brits, Costa de Almería has been hailed by the experts at First Choice as “significantly cheaper than Spain’s main holiday hotspots”. First Choice found that a seven-night stay at the four-star Best Oasis Tropical hotel in Almería during early May costs £281 per person, including flights – that’s around £290 cheaper per couple than a similar break in the Costa del Sol.

The travel experts also found that a beer could set you back just £3 (€3.50) in Almería, compared to the holiday hotspots of Marbella, which could cost as much as £5.19 (€6) per beer.

They also found that a three-course meal for two in Almería would typically cost between £25 (€30) and £30 (€35). This is in stark contrast to the same meal in Marbella, which could range from £51 (€60) to £86 (€100), saving around £61 (€70) per meal in Almería, and a total of £427 (€493) during a seven-night stay.

If that wasn’t enough to tempt you, Costa de Almería welcomes more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and only sees around 26 days of rainfall a year. It also receives 93 per cent less rain in May than the Costa del Sol, averaging just 1mm compared to 15mm.

Thanks to its location near the Tabernas Desert, the experts at First Choice say the region enjoys a warmer climate and sun-soaked rays “weeks before neighbouring areas.” Alongside its tropical climate and cost-cutting benefits, Almería offers plenty to explore, including diverse landscapes and golden-sand beaches.

The protected Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park is well worth a visit, with its volcanic cliffs, hidden coves and some of the most picturesque Spanish beaches. There’s also the stunning Tabernas Desert to explore on a guided day tour, as well as the charming whitewashed hilltop village of Mojácar.

Some may recognise Mojácar, which was famously used as the backdrop for major Hollywood movies, including Indiana Jones, as well as the hit TV series Game of Thrones. For film buffs, there’s the opportunity to visit the preserved Wild West film set of MiniHollywood Oasys, with shows and attractions, to feel as though you’ve stepped directly into Indiana Jones.

As a lesser-known destination compared to the Costa del Sol, there are few high-rise hotels towering over the beach, and quieter beaches, so you’ll often be able to find the perfect sun-soaked spot. What’s more, flights from London Stansted to Almería start from as little as £15 one-way, according to Sky Scanner.

Kevin Nelson, Managing Director at First Choice, said: “Costa Almería quietly delivers some of the most reliable spring sunshine in mainland Europe, yet it hasn’t caught up in price. That gap between weather and cost is what makes it stand out”

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FORGET the Costa del Sol – there is a nearby resort that is cheaper, hotter and has less rain.

Costa de Almería, while not a ‘hidden gem’ per-say, is often overlooked as a holiday destination compared to the popularity of its famous neighbour.

A huge draw is it having a much better climate – with a ‘desert’ coastline due to its proximity to Taberna Desert, the only one of its kind in Europe.

This means a lot less rain too with just 1mm in May compared to the Costa del Sol‘s 15mm, a drop of 93 per cent.

This also means 3,000 hours of sunshine a year which is far more than the UK’s average of 1,350.

Travel experts at First Choice have also found some much cheaper deals too, from as little as £281 for a week’s stay (nearly half the price of a holiday in nearby resorts).

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Dining out is affordable too – the experts say that meals are around €30 (£26), half the price of ones in nearly Marbella.

And pints can be found for €3.50 (£3), especially in Mojacar.

These cheap prices mean you could save up to €455 (£394) on food and drink during a week’s stay.

Kevin Nelson, Managing Director at First Choice, said: “Costa Almería quietly delivers some of the most reliable spring sunshine in mainland Europe, yet it hasn’t caught up in price.

“That gap between weather and cost is what makes it stand out.”

It was even named in easyJet’s Cheap Beach Index last year, coming in third place.

So it’s drier, sunnier and cheaper – making it a no brainer for another holiday.

When it comes to things to do there, there are far fewer high rise hotels so you can enjoy the more traditional towns.

A popular spot is Mojácar – a pretty village that fans of Indiana Jones and Game of Thrones might recognise.

Or it is home to La Isleta del Moro in Almeria, dubbed ‘Little Mykonos‘ for its similar white buildings. 

There is the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park, a protected area with volcanic geology, hidden coves and huge unspoiled beaches.

Otherwise visit Roquetas de Mar, beachfront town with lots of shops, bars and restaurants.

A unique attraction is Oasys (formerly known as Mini Hollywood) which is found in the Tabernas Desert in Almeria.

Being persuaded to even move there? A Place in The Sun presenter Craig Rowe named it as a great alternative to buy a place abroad on a budget.

He told Sun Travel: “Costa Almería in Spain is really good, especially for anyone on a lower budget.

“It’s not overly developed yet, so the airport links aren’t as strong as what you would get from somewhere on the Costa del Sol.

“But it’s great for someone who would want to buy somewhere and get good bargains that’s authentically Spanish.

“But there are things you have to compromise on – in terms of flying, you have to bear in mind there aren’t that many flights.

“But in years to come there could be, as it’s expanding and very up and coming.”

Here are some other alternative holiday destinations, according to the experts.

And one woman has revealed the lesser-visited Spanish island to go to.

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