Pirates return favor on Lasers with four-game win
COSTA MESA -- Eight games into the season, the Orange Coast College men's volleyball team was still trying to find some consistency on both sides of the floor and started the season with a 4-4 record.
Six matches later, the Pirates are one of the hottest teams in the state and on Wednesday, the good times continued to roll inside the Peterson Gym with a four-game Pacific Coast Conference win over visiting Irvine Valley, 25-17, 24-26, 25-23, 25-21.
Dillon Emery, OCC's high-flying hitter, ripped 20 kills to go along with three blocks and two aces to the lead the PCC-leading Pirates (10-4 overall, 7-1 in conference). Chris Van Vuuren added 12 kills, while Rusty Sary added 11 and Sam Jergens chipped in eight.
In the middle, Austin Bagby took care of business with a match-high six blocks. Libero Victor Schaefer came up with 16 digs, while teammate Michael Ensign dished out 49 assists.
For the Lasers (7-7, 5-3), the loss drops them two games behind the first-place Pirates in the PCC standings. Mark Metrakos led the way with 14 kills, while Zak Beard added nine kills and Trevor Lund ripped seven kills. Garrett Komisarek came up with 10 digs, while setter Kevin Fiske contributed 37 assists.
With their last loss still fresh in their minds -- a four-game defeat at IVC back on March 2 -- the Pirates came out aggressive early and jumped out to 17-7 lead in the opening game and never looked back. The offense was spread around as Van Vuuren, Jergens and Emery each provided a pair of kills during that strong start.
In the second game, The Lasers returned to their normal strong form and took turns with the Pirates holding onto the lead throughout. Finally, trailing 22-21, Metrakos went to work in the middle and ripped three big kills during a 5-2 IVC run to even the match at a game apiece.
In the pivotal third game, the Lasers led throughout the first half and held an 18-16 advantage before two Van Vuuren kills and a pair of Emery putaways sparked a 4-1 run, putting OCC up 20-19.
IVC answered with a pair of points to take a 21-20 lead and with the score tied at 22, Bagby came through with the shot of the night. After an Ensign pass was mistimed, Bagby reached back and, before he landed, hit the ball with his opposite hand into the back corner of the court, putting OCC up 23-22.
After the Lasers tied it at 23, a Sary kill was followed up with a big-time point from Van Vuuren, putting the Pirates up 2-1 in the match.
Things looked good early in in Game 4 as the Pirates jumped out to a 12-6 advantage, but after a spirited timeout message from head coach Ki Yi, the Lasers regrouped and used an 11-4 run to grab a 17-16 lead.
Both teams battled back and forth before OCC broke a 19-19 tie with four straight points as Emery used a pair of blocks and a kill to put the Pirates up for good.
Coast will play at San Diego Mesa on Friday before returning to the Peterson Gym on Wednesday night to take on another conference nemesis -- Golden West -- beginning at 6 p.m. During Wednesday's match, the Pirates will honor former OCC player Alan Knipe for his involvement as head coach of the U.S. National Olympic Team.
