Mater Dei's Connor Hughes goes up for a stuff. Carlos Delgado, for The Register.

Like a great novel you can't put down, the boys volleyball season was captivating from start to finish. The teams in the top 10 beat up on each other, and there were teams like Costa Mesa and Cypress who had amazing seasons without reaching the top 10.

The year provided lasting memories and entertaining drama.

Here's a look at the best of the best:

5. Dana Hills pushes Loyola to five games in second round of playoffs

The Dolphins were expected to test San Clemente's South Coast dominance this season. Instead Dana Hills received the third-place seeding from that league and drew the Division I top seed in Loyola in the second round. Since the Cubs had a first-round bye, the Dolphins had to travel and almost pulled off the upset of the year. They went the distance with the eventual champs, but fell in a wildly-entertaining fifth game, 23-21.

4. Costa Mesa's season and playoff run

The Mustangs finished tied for second in the Pacific Coast League and reached the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division II playoffs. All this without ever being ranked in the coaches' Division II poll all season. On top of that, Costa Mesa had its seventh coach in seven seasons - Garry Currier - and won only five games last year. They finished 17-6 this year. "I had high expectations coming here," Currier said. "I'm the new coach and I'm staying. I want to bring a tradition to the school. "

3. No. 1 Newport Harbor rallies to upend No. 2 Corona del Mar

It was the final match of the regular season and it pitted the top two teams in teams in the county against one another. It also happened to be part of the Battle of the Bay series between the Sailors and Sea Kings. It started well for CdM, which built a 2-0 lead on games. Newport Harbor rallied to force a decisive fifth game. In Game 5, the Sailors trailed 8-3 and 10-5 before taking the road victory 15-13.

2. Santa Margarita winning the Trinity League title

The Eagles were in and out of the top 10 at the beginning of the year, while rivals orange Lutheran and Mater Dei both were ranked in the top 5 at different points. It looked as if first place would come down to the Lancers and Monarchs, with the Eagles going third. Yet when the dust settled, Santa Margarita came out on top, sweeping Mater Dei and splitting with Lutheran to finish 9-1 and walk away with the championship banner.

1. Mater Dei upsets Mira Costa to reach Division I final

It appeared the writing was on the wall for the Monarchs, who were playing as the No. 11 seeds against the No. 2 seed. The Mustangs entered the match with one loss - to Loyola - and beat Mater Dei in the final of the Redondo Tournament earlier in the month. However, Connor Hughes provided a game-high 18 kills and Mater Dei not only upset Mira Costa, but swept the higher seed, 25-21, 25-20, 25-22, to reach the final for the third time in school history.

More from the boys volleyball blog:

• Boys volleyball: Division I All-CIF team
• Boys volleyball: Division III All-CIF team
• Boys volleyball: Division IV All-CIF team
• Boys volleyball: Division V All-CIF team
• Boys volleyball: Check out where O.C. players are heading to college
• Boys volleyball: Three county players receive national recognition

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