Pirates outlast Chargers in five sets

COSTA MESA -- In a matchup of two teams that didn't want to leave the Peterson Gym, the Orange Coast College women's volleyball team fought off a furious Cypress rally to win in five sets on Friday night.

After taking the first two sets, the Pirates let a pair of sets slip away before hanging on for the win, 25-16, 25-20, 20-25, 23-25, 15-13, in a tough Orange Empire Conference tilt.

Devyn Holland had 15 kills to lead the Pirates (10-1, 2-0 in OEC), while Sierra Lim came up with 25 digs and the setting combination of Holland and Izzy Mariotti dished out 35 assists.

For the Chargers (6-4, 1-2), Kayla Owens led the offense with 15 kills, while Briana Johnson added 10.

It looked like it would be a quick evening for the Pirates, who took the opening set with relative ease. Coast led 10-2 and despite a late spurt by the Chargers, OCC comfortably led the rest of the way. 

Coast again came out strong in Game 2 and led 8-3 before a 12-2 run by the Chargers pushed the guests right back into the match. Cypress led by as many as six (16-10) before a 12-6 run by the Pirates pushed the hosts back in front late in the second set. 

Leading, 22-20, a kill by Evelyn Awai and a pair of net violations by the Chargers gave Coast the set and a 2-0 lead in the match.

OCC had a 12-8 lead in the third set before Cypress found some success with a 6-0 run, which propelled the Chargers in front, 14-12. With the 1-2 combination of Johnson and Owens, Cypress did not trail the rest of the way and stayed alive in the match.

In a fourth set that saw both teams rip off 6-0 runs, OCC was ahead 23-22 and was two points from victory before Cypress used a misplay by the Pirates, a Johnson block and a kill by Jane Woodward to steal the fourth set and even the match at two sets apiece.

The 15-point fifth set saw OCC blaze in front, 9-3 before a 10-3 run by the Chargers put the guests up 13-12, forcing OCC into a timeout.

The break worked perfectly as a kill by Alibelle Pilimai evened the match and a pair of Cypress return attempts crashed into the net, giving OCC the win.

The Pirates will return to action on Wednesday at Riverside City College (6 p.m.) before returning to the Peterson Gym on Friday night to host Saddleback on "Jane Hilgendorf Court Night", beginning at 6 p.m.