Pirates improve to 5-0 with three-set sweep over Corsairs
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Santa Monica | 14 | 17 | 23 | 0 |
|
Orange Coast | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College men's volleyball team used a lot of different looks and lineups on Friday night, but the results were still the same as the Pirates rolled to a three-set sweep over visiting Santa Monica City College.
Gavin Kosolchareon had a match-best 12 kills as the Pirates (5-0) rolled to a 25-14, 25-17, 25-23 win over the Corsairs (3-3) inside the Peterson Gym. Andrew Kargas added eight kills, while Lukas Morse knocked down six. Setter Keegin Christenson dished out 14 assists, while Gabriel Armen-Nichter anchored the defense with seven digs.
It was another steady and strong performance from the three-time defending state champs and they won the first two sets with relative ease. Coast ripped 15 kills in the opening set, then, followed that up with 14 more in the second set to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Things got a bit interesting in the third set as head coach Travis Turner continued to move players around, mixing and matching various lineup combinations and early on, the Corsairs took advantage with a 7-2 early lead.
That lead lasted all of five points as the Pirates followed a timeout with five straight points of their own to even the set at 7.
But SMCC wouldn't go away quietly. After Coast grabbed a 17-16 advantage, the Corsairs used a 7-4 run to grab a 23-21 lead.
But the Pirates would not led the Corsairs extend the match to a fourth set as a SMCC net serve, an ace by Kam Vakilian and blocks by Ashtonn Florentin and Dylan Patton pushed the Pirates to the finish line first to end the match.
Coast will return to action on Thursday at Moorpark College before returning to the Peterson Gym on Friday against L.A. Pierce. Both matches are set to begin at 6 p.m.
