Men’s Volleyball: OCC sweeps IVC
In between the second and third sets, the Orange Coast College men’s volleyball team exited the Irvine Valley gym. During that time, the Lasers honored their women’s volleyball team, which capped an undefeated season with a California Community College Athletic Assn. title last year.
When the almost five-minute ceremony ended and the women received championship rings, the Pirates returned to the court on Friday. They were on their way to earning a 25-21, 27-25, 25-20 sweep and making the road to defending their men’s state crown a little easier.
By winning the regular-season finale the Pirates finished second in the Pacific Coast Conference at 12-2 and get to play at home in the state tournament next Friday, when they open the quarterfinals with Long Beach City, which took third in the Western State Conference. The Lasers, the third-place finishers at 11-3, are on the road at El Camino, the runner-up from the Western State Conference.
The state tournament appearance by the Pirates (15-5 overall) marks their ninth in as many seasons under Coach Travis Turner. In the previous eight trips, they have reached the Final Four every year, except for one time.
“We kind of worked all year to get to this point and this is what you play for,” Turner said. “You don’t have to say much when you play IVC. These kids all know each other and this is the biggest rivalry we have.”
The battle for second place between archrivals also featured one player facing his former school. Steven Duhoux used to be the setter for the Lasers, before transferring after last season to OCC.
The former Newport Harbor standout finished with 29 assists, one kill and one service ace, contributing to the Pirates avenging last month’s five-set loss at home to IVC. The setback ended OCC’s 6-0 start in conference play, and its only other loss came on Wednesday at Grossmont, ruining any chance the Pirates had of placing first again in conference.
The Pirates seemed to get over that on Friday. Helping their cause was not having to face Cole Murray, who is bound for Loyola Chicago, ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division I rankings. The 6-foot-4 outside hitter missed his second straight match with a knee injury.
With Murray out, Coach Ki Yi toyed around with his lineup. He played Peter Van Liefde, an opposite, at outside hitter, and moved Nate Kofman to opposite. Turner also made an adjustment against the Lasers (13-5).
“They moved their opposite [Kamaha’o Paio] to the outside,” Yi said. “Travis does a great job. It’s always a chess match, and at the end of the day, it’s whoever performs.”
Adrian Faitalia led the Pirates with 13 kills, while Nick Amado finished with eight kills, one solo block and five blocks assists.
Faitalia closed things out in the second set with his eighth kill in the set. He missed on only two swings in the set that featured four ties late. Kyle Hurst, another Newport Harbor product, put the Pirates at set point with a kill, and then Faitalia delivered.
In a tight third set, Patrick Henry came through down the stretch with a couple of his seven kills. The middle blocker added seven digs. Amado, a middle blocker, stuffed Van Liefde (10 kills), allowing Alec Podrasky, who had 16 digs and four aces, to continue his strong serving.
Faitalia produced the final point on a kill out of the back row. The Pirates finished each set strong, the first one, with them behind, 18-15, saw them go on a 10-3 run.
Finishing the season as state champions again is the Pirates’ goal. If they go back-to-back, don’t expect Turner to reward his players with jewelry.
“We don’t do rings,” Turner said.
“They [get] honored that night by winning.”