Pirates return favor with sweep over Tigers
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Riverside | 19 | 14 | 20 | 0 |
|
Orange Coast | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
COSTA MESA -- After starting the first round of Orange Empire Conference play with a frustrating four-set loss at Riverside City College, the Orange Coast College women's volleyball team returned the favor on the Tigers with a three-set sweep on Wednesday night inside the Peterson Gym.
Lulu Utterback paced the Pirates' attack with 13 kills, while Kingsley Mason added nine kills and Taylor Brandley slammed eight kills.
Coast (12-5, 6-3 in the OEC) set the tone of the match right from the opening points as setter Jordan Packer ripped three consecutive aces, helping OCC jump out to a 5-1 advantage. Riverside (11-8, 5-4) came back with five straight points to grab a quick 6-5 lead, but the Pirates pulled away with a 14-3 run and never looked back. Mason had three kills during that span, while Utterback contributed two kills and two blocks to help Coast take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Much like the opening set, the Pirates pulled away with a big run in the second set to turn an 8-8 deadlock into a 20-12 advantage. Riverside had no answer and a quick kill from Packer gave the Pirates the 25-14 Game 2 win.
The third set proved the most challenging for Coast as the Tigers hung tough as both teams were in a 17-17 tie late in the set.
But a kill by Brandley and three straight self-inflicted RCC errors pushed the Pirates in front 21-17. A Riverside kill by Nina Peay made it 21-18, but two kills and a block by Utterback all but sealed the deal for the Pirates.
With the win, the Pirates pull ahead of RCC for the lone fourth-place spot in the OEC standings, behind Irvine Valley, Cypress and Saddleback with seven matches remaining.
Coast will return to action on Wednesday at home against rival Golden West, beginning at 6 p.m.
