Four Pirates earn all-conference honors
COSTA MESA -- Four members of the Orange Coast College women's volleyball program earned All-Orange Empire Conference honors for their fine play this season, as selected by the OEC coaches at their end-of-season meeting.
For the Pirates (19-7), who finished tied for second in the OEC and advanced to the second round of the Southern California Regional playoffs, were led by middle blockers Lily Johnson and Joceline Martinez. Johnson, who earned first-team, All-OEC honors as a freshman last year, continued her fine play with the Pirates in 2019, ripping 188 kills and slamming 83 total blocks this season. Her 83 blocks are tied for the most in one season in school history, tying Stacy Bekemeyer's mark in 1991. Her 154 career blocks has her atop the all-time leaders in school history, shattering the previous mark of 129, set by former All-American Melissa Zapiain in 2002 and 2004.
Martinez, who came to the Pirates from Beckman HS a year ago, came in and was an immediate force at the net. She finished with 222 kills and 67 blocks. Her 67 blocks are tied for eighth-most for one season in school history.
On the second team, OCC picked up two spots with the selections of sophomore Bailey Coffin and freshman Lucrezia Lualdi.
Coffin, a second-team, All-OEC pick a year ago, finished the 2019 season with a team-best 234 kills to go along with 275 digs. She wraps up her fantastic two-year career with the Pirates with 474 kills and 564 digs. Her 564 digs are ninth-best over a two-year span in school history.
Lualdi, who came to OCC this year after prepping at Newport Harbor HS, came up huge during OEC play and finished the season with 191 kills and 222 digs. She led OCC offensive attack during conference play with a team-best 156 kills in just 14 matches.
