Pirates open conference play with a sweep over the Gauchos
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saddleback | 17 | 21 | 14 | 0 |
|
Orange Coast | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
COSTA MESA -- After a two-week layoff, the Orange Coast College women's volleyball team returned to its winning ways with a three-set sweep over visiting Saddleback College on Friday night to open up Orange Empire Conference play.
Led by the all-around play of freshman outside hitter Sierra Brown, the Pirates improved to 6-0 overall with a 25-17, 25-21, 25-14 win over the Gauchos (4-4 overall). Brown led OCC with 20 kills and added eights digs.
Carina Perez notched a match-high 22 digs for the Pirates -- ranked No. 8 in the most recent state polls. Setter Megan Ritchie dished out 27 assists.
For the Gauchos, Mikayla Buck led the offense with 10 kills, while Allie Roe added seven.
Both teams traded blows in the early stages of the match. Coast crept out to a 16-11 advantage before three straight by the Gauchos trimmed the lead down to 16-14.
But a pair of blocks and a pair of kills by Kellie Kleszcz helped helped set the trail for an 9-3 run to help close out the opening set.
In the second set, Brown went to work and led the way with six kills. Much like the opener, both teams went back and forth, with OCC holding a slim 15-13 advantage.
Coast used a couple of errors by the Gauchos and extended the lead to 18-13 before the Gauchos got back to within three at 21-18.
But a block and assisted kill by Kleszcz made it 23-18 before a long Saddleback serve and a Brown put-away ended the second set.
The Pirates turned up the intensity in the third set and made quick work of the Gauchos, jumping to a commanding 16-7 lead and extending their advantage to as many as 13 at 23-10 before closing things out.
OCC will return to action on Wednesday at Fullerton College (6 p.m.) before returning to the Peterson Gym on Friday night against rival Golden West (6 p.m.).
