Pirates back in win column with sweep over Brahmas

COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College men's volleyball team needed a short memory from the night before and took care of business on Friday night with a 25-23, 25-20, 25-20 nonconference win over visiting L.A. Pierce College inside the Peterson Gym.

Less than 24 hours after the three-time defending state champs were stunned in a marathon, five-set upset loss at Moorpark College (25-23, 19-25, 25-22, 21-25, 34-32 ... yes ... 34-32), Coast (6-1) got back to its winning ways, led by the strong play of outside hitter Noah Keelin. The 6-6 sophomore carried the majority of the offensive load for OCC against the Brahmas (3-5) with a match-high 15 kills, while teammate Jacob Surrette added nine kills. Setters Jase Fukushima (23 assists) and Keegin Christenson (12 assists) paced the offense, while on defense, the foursome of Fukushima, Andrew Kargas, Gavin Kosolchareon and Korbin Francisco each notched three digs. 

L.A. Pierce -- much like every other team that will face OCC this year -- gave the defending champs their "A" game and came at Coast early in the opening set, not allowing the Pirates to pull away early. Trailing, 21-20, Coast used a Kargas kill and a Keelin kill and block to regain the lead, 23-21 and from there, both teams traded points until a Keelin put-away gave Coast a 25-23 win. Eight of Keelin's 15 kills came off of that opening set.

The second set was much like the first ... no big runs for either team and the score reflected as much. With Coast up 19-17, back-to-back OCC points gave the hosts a 21-17 advantage and from there, the Pirates held serve the rest of the way to win, 25-20. Kai Van Bourgondien ended the second set with a big kill and solo block to put OCC up 2-0 in the match.

Finally, the Pirates earned a little breathing room in the third set, jumping out to a 17-9 advantage. It was still a seven-point led at 20-13 before Pierce took advantage of some sloppy OCC play for six straight points and the Coast lead was just two at 21-19. 

After an OCC timeout, kills by Keelin and Ashtonn Florentin and a Surrette ace all but sealed the match for Coast. Two serves later, a Florentin kill ended things for good.

OCC will return to action on Saturday at Antelope Valley College, beginning at 6 p.m. before returning to the Peterson Gym on Wednesday against San Diego Mesa College, also at 6 p.m. in a rematch of last year's state finals.