Hoppe named conference MVP as six Pirates earn All-OEC honors
COSTA MESA -- Orange Coast College men's volleyball standout Jordan Hoppe was named the Orange Empire Conference's Most Valuable Player, as voted on by the conference's head coaches at last weekend's postseason meeting.
Hoppe, who's hard work and determination has helped lead the Pirates (18-1) to 17 straight wins and the Orange Empire Conference title, finished the season with 205 kills, 111 digs and 26 aces. In conference play, Hoppe led the way with 14 aces and he finished tied for second in conference in kills (87) and fourth in digs (47).
Sophomore outside hitter Justin Kam and sophomore middle blocker Austin Marriott each earned first-team, all-conference honors for the Pirates.
Kam notched 199 kills, 90 digs and 39 total blocks as option "1B" for the OCC offense, while in the middle, Marriott ripped 50 kills with just 10 errors and added 47 total blocks on defense.
On the All-OEC second team, Coast had three players honored.
Freshman setter Colby Elder finished the 2017 regular season with 427 assists to go along with 77 digs and 13 aces.
Freshman middle blocker Bradley Hankus led the Pirates with 11 solo blocks and 64 total blocks to go along with 69 kills.
Freshman libero Chase Moothart came on strong as the season developed and notched 50 digs, while his 25 service aces were second only to Hoppe for the team lead.
The top-seeded Pirates will kick off Southern California Regional playoff action on Friday night at home against eighth-seeded Grossmont College, beginning at 6 p.m.
