New-look Pirates strive for familiar outcome

COSTA MESA -- After a return trip to the State Finals in 2022, the Orange Coast College women's volleyball team will try to bring in nearly-new roster of talented players and return to the top of the mountain.

With just two returning players back from last year's 21-6 state quarterfinals squad, longtime head coach Chuck Cutenese will have introduce his system to a new crew, but in spite of a lack of familiar faces, the talent and experience is still there. "We have a few girls who have transferred from different places so even though they're new to our school, they are bringing in some experience," Cutenese said. "They've already made big impacts to our team and all of the bounceback players have the potential to be starters for us. Our entire team is working really hard and they're playing well together."

OCC's main returner from last year's team is sophomore opposite Kingsley Mason, who battled the injury bug a bit last year, but still managed to rack up 154 kills, 59 digs and 53 total blocks for the Pirates. "Kingsley got a lot of playing time for us last year and this year, she's back and more healthy and we are real excited to see what she can do for us," Cutenese said. 

Coast will also have another familiar face in the lineup with the return of middle blocker Joceline Martinez, who played for OCC during the 2019 season and was dominant up front with 222 kills (.427 hitting percentage) to go along with 78 digs and 67 total blocks. "During COVID, she had to help out with her family, so volleyball had to wait," Cutenese said. "Once things stabilized a bit after the pandemic, her mom encouraged her to come back and play and she's looked great. As a middle, she's considered undersized, but her jumping ability makes up for that. She's always stayed in great shape and it's been great having her back with us."

Sophomore libero Theresia Amtmann played for the Pirates last year in a limited role, but according to Cutenese, she has made tremendous strides to pick up the Pirate system after coming to OCC last year from Germany. "English is not her primary language so when I was instructing her on the floor, she had to take that split second or two to translate what I was saying," Cutenese said. "I really give her a ton of credit for picking things up as fast as she did. Now, after of year with us, she moves through everything smooth and her verbal skills on the floor are great."

Coast will also bring in a pair of transfers from the four-year level -- outside hitter Madison Hopkins (Westcliff University) and setter Cassie Smits Van Oyen (Coastal Carolina University) -- who will each bring something special to the Pirate lineup. "Madison is a really consistent player, who hits the ball well," Cutenese said. "She's just a solid all-around player and I see her getting a lot of playing time for us.

"Cassie is a 6'1 setter ... I don't think I've EVER had a setter that tall before. With her size, she can not only pass the ball, but her blocking skills are strong and if the time is right, she can turn and hit the ball hard. She can do it all, which will be huge for us."

In addition to the five sophomores, the Pirates will showcase 12 talented freshmen players and all will be seeing lots of playing time early on as the lineups evolve and take shape before the start of Orange Empire Conference play.

Joining Smits Van Oyen at setter is first-year standout Jordan Parker. "Jordan was my No. 1 player that I was recruiting out of high school," Cutenese said. "She's so fast and her defense is unbelievable. I see us going in and out of a 6-2 format and utilizing her in the back row. She has the ability to be strong for us as a defender as well as a tremendous setter."

Competing with Mason on the right side will be freshmen opposites Hayden Johnston and Abigail Brown. "Both freshmen are experienced at that position and each bring something strong to the floor," Cutenese said. "Abigail is 6'2 so her size up front will give us more blocking abilities, while Hayden is 5'9, but is very athletic and identical to Kingsley. Both freshmen are pushing Kingsley and I love to see that competition."

The outside hitter position is up for grabs, according to Cutenese, who have freshmen Taylor Brandley, Kaitlyn Cotton and Lulu Utterback joining Hopkins for playing time. "This will be one of the toughest decisions heading into the season," Cutenese said. "All four can hit the ball and all four can block well. What will separate them will be passing ... which ever will be the most consistent passer will see the most playing time. We will juggle the lineup throughout most of the nonconference to find the best fit there."

In the middle, joining Martinez up front will be Lulu Parks, Courtney Washburn and Mary Masias. "Courtney is 6'2 and can put up a big block for us," Cutenese said. Mary is 5'10, but is like Joceline as an athletic/vertical type of middle. Lulu is a good player and works real hard, but just needs some more experience, which she'll get early in the season."

Another question mark comes on defense as Cutenese brings in four solid liberos, including freshmen Sophia Wirtzer, Kelsey Gomarko and Caroline Vasquez. "It's just like the outside hitters," Cutenese said. "Whichever player can find the most consistency with their passing will see the majority of the playing time. It's a nice situation for us to be in. If we stay in a 5-1 format, we can stay with a defensive specialist for more passing in the back."

No definitive answers need to be made in August so Cutenese will put all of his ingredients into the melting pot and see what needs to be added/subtracted for the perfect mixture come conference time. "So far, it's all going well and the team is very connected," Cutenese said. "We just need to see which players rise to the top."