Pirates set to battle Corsairs for state crown

COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College men's volleyball team will look for its first state title since 1994 on Friday night at 7 p.m. against Santa Monica at the 2014 CCCAA State Championships, held at Santiago Canyon College.

The Pirates (19-1), winners of the Pacific Coast Conference, swept past Irvine Valley College, 25-20, 25-18, 25-20, on Wednesday to advance to tonight's championship match. This is the 15th trip to the state championship match in school history for the Pirates, who have won five state titles along the way (1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994). 

"We're excited for the opportunity tonight, that's for sure," OCC head coach Travis Turner said. "Strong leadership and a group of guys all buying into working towards a common goal is a huge part of our success. Santa Monica will be a tough matchup for us because they're playing their best volleyball of the season right now and they're a very confident group."

That leadership starts with sophomore outside hitter Ty Hutchins. The PCC Player of the Year spearheads a Pirate offense that gives Turner several options for success. Hutchins has notched 238 kills to go along with 78 digs, and 24 total blocks. 

Freshman opposite Jim Webb has been a hitting machine for Coast, leading the team with 244 kills, 73 digs, 42 total blocks and a team-best 21 aces. 

As a team, Coast has been strong in serving with 75 aces -- a trend that Turner believes is a key to OCC's success.

"We need to keep serving well and we need to keep Santa Monica on their heels," Turner said. "If we can do that, and also side-out well, we should be in good shape."

Setter Brendan Duff (651 aces, 73 digs) will be dishing out the offense to Hutchins and Webb, as well as other key members of the Pirates, including middle blockers Nick Amado (144 kills, team-best 60 blocks), Scott Metrakos (56 kills, 34 blocks) and outside hitter Brandon Dau (76 kills, 49 digs, 18 blocks).

Anchoring the defense throughout the season has been libero Ryan Manoogian, who leads the squad with 103 digs.

For the Corsairs (14-6), their run to the championship has been a bit of a surprise. After a third-place finish in the Western State Conference, SMCC has picked up the level of play and, after a five-set loss to Long Beach on April 2, the Corsairs have won four straight (all sweeps) including playoff blowouts against Grossmont (25-18, 25-18, 27-25) and WSC champion El Camino (25-19, 25-19, 25-19) on Wednesday.

Much like the Pirates, the Corsairs are well-balanced throughout their offense, led by the foursome of freshman opposite Tyler Tattersall (278 kills, 71 digs, 59 blocks), freshman outside hitter Keats Stanley (257 kills, 98 digs, 35 blocks), freshman outside hitter Luis Palos (147 kills, 33 digs, 44 blocks) and sophomore middle blocker Thomas Stoeckinger (147 kills, team-best 69 blocks). 

Both teams faced each other back on Jan. 31 at OCC, with the Pirates prevailing in straight sets, 25-23, 25-22, 25-19. Webb led Coast with 17 kills, while Hutchins added 10. For the Corsairs, Tattersall had 13 kills, while Stoeckinger and Stanley each added nine.

This is the fourth trip to the state finals in SMCC history (1979, 1980, 1981) and the Corsairs are looking for their third championship (1979, 1981).