Coast cruises past Corsairs in three
COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College men's volleyball team will begin a three-match road swing on the right note following a three-game sweep over visiting Santa Monica City College on Wednesday night.
Led by 12 kills from Chris Van Vuuren and 10 kills from Dillon Emery, the Pirates took care of business at home with a 25-17, 25-19, 25-17 win.
Michael Ensign dished out 33 assists in the win for OCC (4-3).
For the Corsairs (3-4), Fabio Calesso led the way with 12 kills, while teammate Tillman Hubbard added seven.
In the opening game, a strong start for the Pirates pushed the hosts out in front early and a strong hitting attack prevented any long point streaks for the Corsairs as they build a 22-13 lead and cruised from there.
In Game 2, another strong start for the Pirates (7-2) was this time answered with an 8-3 run, tying the game at 10.
However, in a match where Santa Monica never led, the Pirates bent, but didn't break. Finally, with the game tied at 16, a 6-1 run helped put OCC up two games to none in the best-of-five match.
The third game was much like the first two -- a strong start by OCC helped pave the way for a 20-10 advantage. Santa Monica fired back with four points in a row, but never got any closer as a block by Sam Jergens (his third of the match) closed things out.
OCC will travel to Long Beach City College on Friday at 6 p.m. to take on the Vikings before opening Pacific Coast Conference play at Grossmont College on Wednesday (6 p.m.) and at defending state-champion Irvine Valley on Friday, March 2 (6 p.m.). The Pirates' next home contest will be on Wednesday, March 7 against San Diego Mesa, also at 6 p.m.
