Pirates keep rolling with sweep over Vikings

COSTA MESA -- The second time looked just like the first for the Orange Coast College men's volleyball team as the Pirates completed a three-set sweep over visiting Long Beach City College for the second time this season on Wednesday night inside the Peterson Gym.

Much like their Jan. 24 matchup that ended in favor the Pirates (25-22, 25-20, 25-20), Coast rolled over the Vikings with a 25-19, 25-12, 25-19 nonconference win to improve to 7-0 for the season.

Ben Bray led the Pirates with 12 kills and six digs, while Quentin Ryan added 11 kills and Collin Applegate knocked down eight kills. Setters Keagin Christenson (18 assists, five digs) and Mason Grubbs (12 assists) spread the ball around to all the OCC hitters, while Adam Haidar came through with five total blocks to go along with four kills.

Both teams traded blows early in the first set but with OCC leading 9-7, a 9-4 run pushed Coast's advantage up to 18-11. Bray and Victor Loiola each came through with a pair of kills during that run, with solo kills coming from Ryan and Haidar.

Long Beach (4-3) tried to get back into the set with an 8-3 run to pull to within three at 22-19, but a Ryan kill, a Seth Sainz ace and a Haidar block wrapped up the opening set for the Pirates.

It was ALL-OCC in the second set opened things with a 9-3 run and then added a 9-4 run to pull away for good at 18-7. Ryan ripped down five kills in the second set, while Bray added three.

Long Beach grabbed a sliver of momentum early in the third withan early 4-1 lead, but three in a row by the Pirates negated that LBCC start and from there, Coast pulled away from the Vikings for good.

With the third set tied at 7, Coast used a pair of Bray kills to spark a 5-0 run and with a few LBCC service errors thrown into the mix, Coast grabbed a 16-10 advantage.

Both teams went back and forth for the next few points before a mini 4-1 LBCC run pulled the Vikings to within three at 22-19. But a crucial Loiola put-away was followed by kills from Haidar and Applegate to end the match in favor of the Pirates.

It was a hitting display for the Pirates. As a team, Coast hit at a .474 clip, led by Bray's 12 kills with no errors on 17 attempts (.706).

Coast will head up to Santa Monica City College on Friday for a 6 p.m. matchup with the Corsairs. OCC's next home game will take place on Wednesday against Antelope Valley, beginning at 2 p.m.