PEEK AT THE WEEK:It’s a big week for Pirates

Orange Coast College got somewhat of a monkey off its back when the Pirates defeated Golden West’s women’s volleyball team Saturday.

Now the Pirates want to hold a championship plaque over their heads after they play at the Championship Festival in Fresno, where eight teams will vie for the state title.

Orange Coast, the defending state champion, will face Shasta at 3 p.m. on Friday at Fresno Pacific University.

The championship match is on Sunday.

The Pirates’ women’s soccer team is also trying to advance to the four-team state tournament, which is also at Fresno Pacific University. OCC will play at Cypress Saturday at 2 p.m. for the right to advance.

Orange Coast is the underdog after losing twice to Cypress this season. The Pirates lost, 5-0, Sept. 22 and, 6-0, Oct. 24.

But they have since gathered momentum with two upset wins in the Southern California Regional Playoffs.

The 13th-seeded Pirates (15-7-1) got a goal from Nicole Huff in the 80th minute to eliminate No. 4 Ventura. Then Orange Coast took out the No. 12 seed in Santa Monica College.

Kaitlyn Schuesler’s goal in the 11th minute led the Pirates to advance to play Cypress again on Saturday.