Hornets sting Pirates in four

Top-ranked Orange Coast College got 15 kills and 12 digs from

outside hitter Melissa Zapiain, but visiting Fullerton was firing on

all cylinders Wednesday night and handed the Pirates their first

defeat of the season, 30-25, 23-30, 30-26, 30-27, in Orange Empire

Conference women’s volleyball.

Alexis Cooley and Suzanne Andrade gave the Pirates fits from start

to finish, combing for 31 kills and eight blocks. The duo took turns

in the spotlight for the Hornets (9-6, 6-3 in the Orange Empire

Conference), carrying their team at various points in the match.

After the 30-25 first-game loss, the Pirates responded with their

only positive. Kelly Overby had six kills and Krystle Davis added

five in Game 2 as the Bucs turned a 12-11 lead into a 19-11 cushion

with Davis at the service line. The Hornets got no closer than seven

points the rest of the way as the Bucs tied the match at 1-1.

Coast rallied from a 19-7 deficit to tie Game 4 at 25, only to

waste the opportunity.

Overby finished with 13 kills for the Pirates (14-1, 8-1), while

Elisha Counts dished out 39 assists and added 12 digs. Janelle Jeremiah paced the Coast defense with 20 digs, and Casey Petersen had

seven blocks.

Preps: GWL champion Mustangs roll on

The Costa Mesa High girls volleyball team continues to steamroll

its way toward the CIF Southern Section Division III-A playoffs with

a, 15-4, 17-15, 15-10, win over Santa Ana Wednesday in a Golden West

League match.

Sharon Day led the Mustangs, 12-2, 11-0 in league, with 20 kills

and Devin Denman added eight kills while Jenny Sparks tallied 22

assists.

Jackie Havens led Mesa with four aces.

The Mustangs host Saddleback Friday in the team’s final regular

season match before the CIF playoffs begin next week.