Orange Coast College

Women's Volleyball: Pirates swept by Golden West

Friday, October 12, 2007

COSTA MESA - Two heavyweights went at it in the Peterson Gym and in the end, it was Golden West Rustlers who delivered the biggest haymakers en route to a three-game knockout over Orange Coast, 30-24, 30-17, 30-23.

Five different Rustlers (11-2, 4-1 in the Orange Empire Conference) posted eight or more kills with Danielle Heisler's 15 kills leading the way.

All of that firepower was provided without the services of Rustler standout Kassie Faulkner, who was sidelined with a broken thumb.

"We didn't play well and Golden West took advantage of it," OCC head coach Chuck Cutenese said. "They (the Rustlers) kept serving strong at us and we weren't able to pass the ball well at all."

Jacqi Reed had 11 kills to lead the top-ranked Pirates (10-2, 4-1), but that wasn't enough as sixth-ranked GWC used three 6-foot-1 standouts to overpower the hosts, much to the delight of the noisy Rustler crowd that made their way from Huntington Beach.

Trailing 10-8 in Game 1, GWC used several return errors by Coast and went on an 8-1 run for a lead it would not lose. Despite some strong hitting by Jessica Roy (seven kills), OCC got close, but never regained the lead as the Rustlers capped off the opener with five straight points.

The OCC mistakes continued as Golden West continued to apply pressure on the Pirates' passing game. A 12-3 run turned a 9-6 Rustler lead into a 21-9 blowout as the guests cruised to a two-game lead in the match.

Much like Game 1, OCC jumped out to an early lead in Game 3, only to see the Rustlers go on an 11-4 run to grab hold of things. Lindsay Helberg (10 kills) helped pave the way in the third game with several big hits.

Trailing 21-14, OCC used a couple of mistakes by GWC and a nice block by the tandem of Emily Lyon (24 assists) and Roy to cut the deficit to 21-17, forcing the Rustlers to call timeout.

That break in the action was all the Rustlers needed as they ended the match with a 9-6 run to close things off.

"It was nice to see us come out strong like this," GWC head coach Rick Fitzpatrick said. "We've been waiting for us to play the way we're capable of playing and tonight we were able to play well. OCC had a tough night, but I know what they can do and I know the next time we see them, we'll be in for a tough matchup."