Orange Coast College

Women's Volleyball: Pirates fall to Rustlers in four

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

COSTA MESA -- In a matchup between two of the top teams in the state, the Orange Coast College women's volleyball team lost in four games to visiting Golden West, 22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 29-27 on Wednesday night at the Peterson Gym.

Coming into match unbeaten in seven swept matches, the third-ranked Pirates (7-1, 1-1 in Orange Empire Conference) hung tough with the 10th-ranked Rustlers (9-2, 2-0), but some tough points down the stretch proved costly for Coast, especially in the final two games.

After splitting the first two games, OCC and Golden West were tied at 21 in Game 3. But it was the Rustlers, who used a kill by Maritza Montes, back-to-back blocks by Kattie Givens and Allie Board and a mishandled pass to take the game and the momentum from the Pirates.

Cleaning their game up for Game 4, the Pirates jumped out to the early lead and after a GWC rally, regained the lead late with an 8-1 run to take a 23-17 advantage.

Following a lengthy substitution by the Rustlers, GWC responded with four straight points to cut the deficit to 23-21.

A long return by the Rustlers gave Coast three chances to end the game and force a Game 5, but the Pirates were unable to finish the job as a Alex Risko kill was sandwiched between an OCC return error and a net violation, tying the game at 24.

Risko again found the floor with a kill, giving GWC the lead at 25-24, but OCC fought off three Rustler match point attempts to tie the game at 27.

But the match came to an end with back-to-back kills by the Rustlers, sending the GWC-heavy crowd into a frenzy.

Poerava Gantt led Coast with 18 kills and 14 digs, while Briana Fields added 10 kills. Nikki Osuna led the defense with 24 digs, while Rachel Freeno notched 15 digs. Freshman setter Kimya Jafroudi paced the offense with 42 assists.

OCC returns to action on Friday at sixth-ranked Cypress (6 p.m.). The Pirates' next home match will come Friday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. against another high-ranking opponent, fourth-ranked Irvine Valley.