Pirates return to win column with sweep over Tigers

COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College women's volleyball team fought off the sting of Wednesday's tough loss to Golden West with a solid three-set sweep over visiting Riverside City College, topping the Tigers, 31-29, 25-19, 25-20 on Friday night inside the Peterson Gym.

Freshman outside hitter Sierra Brown led the Pirates (11-5, 6-5 in the Orange Empire Conference) with 12 kills, while teammate Kellie Kleszcz added 10. Setter Megan Ritchie dished out 35 assists in the win.

For the Tigers (7-12, 3-8), Deborah Catanese had 14 kills, while Cherylain Dizon added 10. Setter Jennifer Norton also distributed 35 assists.

In a match that started with a set that didn't want to end, both teams battled back and forth to decide a winner. Trailing 22-16 and again at 24-21, the Pirates fought off three straight set points to even the score a 24. Kills by Kleszcz and Brown helped spark the rally.

Riverside would have three more set points in a row, but again, all three were thwarted by Coast. OCC had three set-point opportunities as well but Riverside hung in there and kept the set going. Finally, a kill by Hayley Martin, put Coast up 30-29 and Kleszcz put the set away with a kill of her own as the Pirates survived the opener.

Coast carried that momentum and never let it go the rest of the night. In the second set, the Pirates jumped out to an 18-10 lead before a late Tigers' rally get the guests to within three at 22-19. 

But a Kleszcz kill and service winner and a net return by the Tigers ended the set, putting OCC ahead 2-0.

Another fast start sparked the Pirates and doomed the Tigers as Coast led 8-1 and never looked back. The lead grew to 10 at 20-10 before the Tigers, again, clawed their way back to within four at 22-18. 

Both teams traded points before a pair of errors by Riverside gave the Pirates the points they needed to win the match.

Coast will return to the Peterson Gym on Wednesday night against Irvine Valley College, beginning at 7 p.m.