Pirates continue to roll with three-set sweep over rival Rustlers

COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College men's volleyball team showed the depth of its talent on Friday night with a three-set sweep over rival Golden West College on Friday night inside the Peterson Gym.

Playing nearly the entire roster from start to finish, the Pirates (14-0, 7-0 in Orange Empire Conference) sent wave after wave after the Rustlers (6-5, 1-1), but the guests just didn't have the answers as OCC rolled to a 25-18, 25-20, 25-11 win.

Will Anderson led the way with nine kills, while Jack Flynn and Clark Steele had five kills each.

Setters Enzo Boggio and Jordan Rodriguez combined for 30 assists, while Boggio also anchored the defense with a team-best seven digs.

For the Rustlers, Matthew Coleman and Miguel Flores Jr. each had seven kills to lead the GWC offense.

After both teams traded a pair of points each in the opening set, OCC turned up the intensity and went on a 16-6 run to grab an 18-8 advantage. Anderson and Steele each notched a pair of kills during that run, while GWC was victim of several unforced errors.

OCC's advantage grew to 10 at 19-9 before a mini 9-4 run pulled GWC to within five at 23-18, but an Anderson kill and ace closed the opening set out in favor of the Pirates.

It was more of the same in the second set as an 11-3 run snapped an early 5-5 tie and gave the Pirates a comfortable 16-8 advantage. GWC got to within four at 18-14 but the Rustlers did not get any closer the rest of the set, giving OCC a 2-0 lead in the match.

The Pirates were never threatened in the third set as the hosts jumped out to a 22-7 advantage and never looked back. Three kills by Steele to kick off the set helped jump-start the Pirates offense, while GWC managed just three kills the entire third set.

The Pirates will return to action on Saturday at Santa Barbara City College, beginning at 6 p.m. OCC's next home match will take place on Wendesday, Feb. 27 against Fullerton, also at 6 p.m.