Pirates outlast Raiders in four; improve to 5-0

COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College men's volleyball team improved to 5-0 this season with a four-set win over visiting Moorpark College on Wednesday inside the Peterson Gym.

Jim Webb slammed down 22 kills and notched 12 digs, while Ty Hutchins added 20 as the Pirates outlasted a relentless Raider team, 25-20, 25-20, 28-30, 25-18. Brendan Duff dished out 52 assists for the Pirates, while Nick Amado and Scott Metrakos each had two blocks.

Sean Ring had 12 kills for the Raiders (2-2), while Brandon Kohler added 10 in the loss.

In the opening set, Coast grabbed an early lead, used a couple of mini-runs to extend its lead and never lost that lead as strong play by the entire Pirate team put the hosts ahead in the match. Five kills by Webb, four kills by Nick Amado and four by Hutchins helped thin out the Raiders' defensive pressure.

Moorpark came out with more aggression in the second set and used several unforced errors by the Pirates to take an 11-5 lead.

Following a Pirate timeout, Coast came back to its earlier form and used an 8-1 run to grab a 13-12 lead.

The second set was tied at 14 when a Hutchins kill and three errors by the Raiders sparked a 4-1 run and pushed Coast's lead up to 18-15.

Moorpark would get to within a point at 19-18, but the Pirates would hold on as three Webb kills and a pair from Amado would help close out the set and give Coast a 2-0 lead in the match.

Once again, the Raiders came out strong and jumped out to a 19-13 lead before another OCC comeback would bring the hosts to within a point at 19-18.

The Raiders stayed out in front and at 24-21, they had three chances to force a fourth set, but a pair of kills by Hutchins and a block by Amado tied the set at 24. Both teams traded blows down the stretch, but with the set tied at 28, a Moorpark Kohler and a long OCC return, brought the fourth set to an end and the match rolled on.

In the fourth set, it was the Pirates who jumped early and this time, they would not look back as a 16-11 lead was never really threatened the rest of the way. Five kills each by Hutchins and Webb proved to be too much for the Raiders to overcome.

OCC will be on the road for the next few matches, but will return home on Friday, Feb. 21 against L.A. Pierce, beginning at 6 p.m.