Orange Coast College

Men's Volleyball: Pirates advance by sweeping past Santa Monica

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College men's volleyball team advanced to the semifinals of the 2010 CCCAA Men's Volleyball State Championships with a three-game sweep over visiting Santa Monica City College on Tuesday night in OCC's Peterson Gym.

Freshman outside hitter Harrison Carroll led the Pirates (17-2) with 16 kills, while sophomore Brad Hemmerling added 10 kills, two aces and nine digs. Defensively, OCC libero Harrison Phelps notched 12 digs, while sophomore setter Paul Leon dished out 36 assists.

For Santa Monica (6-11), Lance Kinningham led the offense with 10 kills, while teammate Sam Lam added seven kills.

Despite the difference in overall win-loss records, the Corsairs battled the Pirates tough all the way through Game 1 and held a 29-25 lead before the Pirates responded.

A Hemmerling kill, a Jeff Patton block, a return into the net, an ace by Justin Johnson and an errant SMCC return gave OCC the lead at 30-29. After both teams traded points, Santa Monica sent a return wide of its target, giving the Pirates the opening game.

Much like the opening game, Game 2 went back and forth before a couple of mini-runs put OCC in front, 25-21.

SMCC middle blocker Blake Levin sparked a 5-0 run with a pair of kills and a block, giving the Corsairs a 26-25 lead. But OCC fought back with four straight points and closed Game 2 out with a 5-1 run to grab a two-game lead in the match.

Game 3 was all OCC right from the opening whistle as the Pirates jumped out to a 10-2 lead and never looked back. The lead grew to as many as 11 (23-12) before Coast managed to close out the match.

With the win, Orange Coast will take on Long Beach City College on Thursday, beginning at 8 p.m. at OCC's Peterson Gym. The Pirates and Vikings played once earlier this year and it was OCC which prevailed in three games at LBCC back on Feb. 12. Long Beach City has since responded with 13 straight wins, including 10 straight in the Western State Conference to win the WSC title.