Orange Coast College

Women's Volleyball: Pirates outlast Eastern Utah, win in five

Thursday, September 18, 2008

COSTA MESA -- The College of Eastern Utah made the most of its traveling fund and gave the host Orange Coast College women's volleyball team all it could handle. But in the end, the host Pirates withstood the Eagles' play and won, 21-25, 25-18, 25-19, 21-25, 15-8 on Thursday in nonconference action.

Freshman Rachel Freeno led the Pirates (5-0) with 15 kills, while sophomore Jessica Brown added 10 in a balanced offensive effort.

Freshman libero Amanda Cheseborough led the defense with 11 digs, while sophomore setter Emily Lyon dished out 48 assists.

For the Eagles (1-6), freshman outside hitter Alexis Adams led the way with 12 kills, while Karissa Law added seven.

The opening game was close and things looked good for the Pirates as they led 21-19. But Eastern Utah came back and ripped off six straight points to take the opener. It was OCC's first defeat in a game this season.

Trailing 8-7 in Game 2, OCC regained the momentum and went on a 13-4 run to take the lead for good. Brown (two kills) and Freeno (one kill, two aces) helped the Pirates even the match at a game apiece.

In Game 3, maintained an early lead and after the Eagles climbed back to within three at 22-19, OCC responded off a timeout with three straight points, two of which came off a Freeno kill and ace.

Eastern Utah grabbed the early lead in Game 4, but OCC pulled even with the Eagles at 17. However this time, the Eagles would answer with a run of their own, scoring six of the next eight points to take the lead for good, forcing a Game 5.

The turning point came early in the fifth game. With OCC leading 5-3, a long rally by both teams was ended with the ball landing on OCC's side of the court. Originally calling the point for Eastern Utah, the officials determined that a back-row hitter was in violation on the play and the point was awarded to Coast, turning a 5-4 lead into a 6-3 lead. The Pirates would score two more points in a row and lead 8-3, never losing the advantage the rest of the way.

OCC will take part in the Santa Ana Tournament this weekend before returning to the Peterson Gym on Wednesday against San Bernardino Valley, beginning at 6 p.m.