Pirates earn State's No. 1 ranking
COSTA MESA -- Thanks to a solid 9-1 start to the season, the Orange Coast College men's volleyball team was ranked No. 1 in the state, according to California Community College Men's Volleyball Coaches Association.
OCC heads into Orange Empire Conference play on Wednesday night at Golden West College (6 p.m.) on the heels of a solid nonconference campaign. The Pirates took on six state-ranked opponents, including No. 2 Long Beach City twice, and went 5-1 against the best of the best. For the 2022 season, Coast has six sweeps in its nine wins, but is also 2-1 in matches that have reached five full sets, including it's last win at No. 4 Miramar on Friday.
Coast's next major test will take place on Friday at No. 3-ranked Irvine Valley (10-2), beginning at 6 p.m.
Pirate slugger Will Anderson leads the state with 130 kills and 18 service aces, while setter Josh Friedman is second in the CCCAA in assists-per-set at 9.27. His 204 total assists are sixth-most in the state in spite of missing four matches earlier this season.
As a team, Coast is second in the state in hitting percentage (.319), total kills (442) and assists (407).
OCC's next home match will take place on Friday, March 18 against Santiago Canyon, beginning at 6 p.m.
Here is the State Top 10 rankings ...
CCCMVCA State Top 10
1. Orange Coast (9-1)
2. Long Beach City (8-1, 3-0)
3. Irvine Valley (10-2)
4. Miramar (5-3)
5. Moorpark (7-4, 3-1)
6. El Camino (5-4, 2-1)
7. Santa Monica (3-4, 2-1)
8. Antelope Valley (3-5, 1-2)
9. Santa Barbara City (3-5, 1-3)
9. Fullerton (6-5)
