Mira Costa girls’ volleyball beats Sierra Canyon in playoffs

The bus was too loud for Cam Green to speak.

A week earlier, the mood was completely different, emotions plummeting, as the Manhattan Beach Mira Costa girls’ volleyball team rode back from Cerritos College, the players hugging after falling in the Southern Section Division 1 finals in Chatsworth Sierra Canyon.

But on Saturday, a team chasing flags were loud and hooting, screams of joy echoing behind Green as the coach delivered a 3-2 (26-28, 25-19, 25-18, 23-25, 15-13) recap ) bounce-back win over the same Trailblazers team in an Open Division Quarterfinals.

“It’s incredible,” Green said. “It’s rare in sport that you get an opportunity to play against someone again so quickly.”

Last Saturday, Mira Costa was “a little messed up,” Green said, as she faced a rolling Sierra Canyon roster as 6-foot-4 Pittsburgh Committed — and recently named AVCA First Team All-American — dominated Olivia Babcock.

But it was 6-foot junior setter Charlie Fuerbringer, one of the nation’s top players, who restored the momentum to the Mustangs on Saturday. Green texted that it was “one of their best matches of the year.”

“She just has the ability to put us in good situations when you’re not usually in good situations … You can’t put a price tag on that,” Green said earlier in the season.

A dominant run could end Tuesday, however, when the Mustangs meet a juggernaut in the state semifinals — San Diego’s Cathedral Catholic, who is not only 40-0 this season but hasn’t lost a single set yet.

“They are the best team in the country,” said Green.

The Mustangs didn’t have any pressure all year, emphasized the coach, and his preliminary plan: win the first set. It’s going to be a challenge. But take the first 25, and anything could happen from there.

“Maybe that will make her think a little differently,” Green said.