Pirates come up short in loss to Rustlers

COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College women's volleyball team played with a lot of heart but came up short to rival Golden West College, losing in four sets to the Rustlers before an enthusiastic crowd inside the Peterson Gym.

Despite a 22-kill performance from freshman outside hitter Sierra Brown, the Pirates just couldn't hold off the visiting Rustlers and fell, 25-17, 20-25, 25-21, 25-22.

Megan Rawlings added 11 kills and three blocks for the Pirates (6-2, 1-2 in the Orange Empire Conference), while Kellie Kleszcz added nine kills and Courtney Chadderdon chipped in seven to go along with four solo blocks.

Carina Perez kept the Pirates in the match with great defense, picking up 34 digs, while Megan Ritchie paced the offense with 35 assists.

For the Rustlers (9-0, 3-0) -- ranked No. 3 in the state -- were led offensively and defensively by freshman standout Jordyn Sanchez, who had 17 kills and 19 digs. Middle blocker Drucilla Gauta added 16 kills, while Tyler Davis added 11. GWC's setting tandem of Taylor Packer (23 assists) and Janessa Brown (22 assists) kept the ball moving all over the floor throughout the night.

Coast trailed GWC by one at 13-12 midway through the first set before back-to-back kills by Davis and Gauta helped spark a 10-3 run by the Rustlers, giving the guests the advantage in the opening set.

In the second set, it was the Pirates who used a midway run to take control of things. With the set tied at eight, four straight Brown kills and a pair of Chadderdon blocks sparked an 11-4 outburst and put the Pirates up 19-12. GWC crept back to within two at 22-20, before a serve into the net, a Brown block and a Brown kill gave the set to Coast and evened the match at a set apiece.

Things looked good for Coast early in the third set as four more Brown kills helped give OCC a 7-3 lead, but the Rustlers regroupled and used an 11-3 run to grab a 13-10 advantage.

Coast returned the favor and ripped off four straight points to regain a 14-13 lead , but the strong play of Gauta (two kills and a block) pushed the guests back out in front with a 6-1 run (19-15) and this time, the Rustlers would stay ahead the rest of the set.

In the fourth set, Coast trailed 15-11 before some key kills by Rawlings get OCC back in the match. She ripped three straight points for Coast and helped spark a 8-3 run, putting the Pirates in front 19-18.

The lead was 20-19, OCC and after a timeout by the Rustlers, three kills by Davis, two by Gauta and one by Sanchez capped off a 6-2 run to end the match.

Coast will return to action on Wednesday at Riverside (6 p.m.) and on Friday at Irvine Valley (6 p.m.). OCC's next home match will be on Wednesday, Oct. 23 against Santa Ana (6 p.m).