Coast controls Comets in three-game sweep
COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College men's volleyball team needed less than an hour to take care of business on Wednesday night as the Pirates swept past visiting Palomar College, 25-12, 25-12, 25-21, in a Pacific Coast Conference matchup inside the Peterson Gym.
Dillon Emery, second in the state in kills-per-game average (3.84/game) improved on those totals with 17 for the match to lead the Pirates (8-4, 4-1 in PCC). Rusty Sara added six kills, while Sam Jergens, John Christian and Chris Van Vuuren each added four kills. OCC setter Michael Ensign dished out 24 assists in the win.
Palomar (3-10, 3-4) was led by Anthony Pippen with four kills and Trey White added three.
Van Vuuren and Emery went to work quickly in Game 1 as the Pirates jumped out to a 17-9 lead never looked back.
The Comets hung tough with Coast through the first half of Game 2 before a 17-12 OCC advantage was blown wide open with an 8-0 run to close the game out.
The level of play lowered early in Game 3 and the Comets took advantage of the opportunity and pulled even with the Pirates at 15-15.
But OCC responded with three straight points and after a Palomar point, scored five more in a row to take a 23-16 advantage. Palomar crept back into the fray with a 5-1 run, but it wasn't enough as the Pirates finally closed things out and picked up the win.
Coast will return to the Peterson Gym on Friday night against Grossmont College, beginning at 6 p.m.
