Adair sets all-time digs record for Pirates in sweep over Riverside

COSTA MESA -- There's a new all-time digs leader atop the Orange Coast College women's volleyball record book after sophomore Rylee Adair notched dig number 918 during the Pirates three-set sweep over visiting Riverside City College on Friday night inside the Peterson Gym.

Adair, who entered Friday night's match with 908 career digs, came up with a team-best 18 digs as the Pirates rolled past the Tigers, 25-23, 25-21, 25-18. Her 926 digs surpassed Sierra Lim's two-year total of 917 digs set during the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

Bailey Coffin sparked the OCC offense with 11 kills, while middle blocker Lily Johnson added eight kills for the Pirates (16-4, 7-3 in conference), who snapped a modest three-match losing streak. Hally Herder added seven kills, while Kristi Black notched six to help round out OCC's balanced offensive attack.

For the Tigers (12-7, 5-4), Vashti Elias-Romero, Julia Balancier and Marcella Rodriguez each had seven kills.

Coast led 15-9 early in the opening set and it looked like smooth sailing early on for the Pirates, but RCC battled back and used a 9-1 run to grab an 18-16 advantage. 

The Pirates responded with back-to-back points to even things at 18 and from there, the match went back and forth with each school taking their hacks. With the match tied at 23, a double-contact violation against the Tigers was followed up with a Herder kill to give OCC the opening set, 25-23.

Once again, Coast started strong in the second set, grabbing a 14-8 advantage, only to see the Tigers claw back. This time, an 10-5 run by Riverside helped the Tigers get to within a point at 19-18, but a Johnson kill and block and two kills by Coffin sparked a pivotal 5-1 run, putting OCC up for good.

In the third set, it was ALL Orange Coast as the Pirates jumped out to a 22-10 lead. But, once again, Riverside refused to call it quits and used a 7-1 run to get back into the neighborhood at 23-17. 

But kills by Herder and Black were all the Pirates needed to end the match, keeping the Pirates alone in second place in the OEC standings.

Coast will return to action on Wednesday at Saddleback College before returning to the Peterson Gym on Friday night against rival Golden West. Both matches will begin at 6 p.m.