Upstart Palomar Topples Pierce in Volleyball Playoffs

Perennial power Pierce College met postseason novice Palomar in the semifinals of the men’s Southern California junior college volleyball regional Friday, and the new kids proved tough on the block . . . not to mention the dig and the spike.

Palomar, making its first appearance in postseason play, used a strong defense to upend Pierce, 15-10, 15-5, 15-6, at Orange Coast College.

“I just felt like Palomar played such great defense,” Pierce Coach Ken Stanley said. “We were getting the right guys swings, but the ball didn’t go to the floor.”

For Pierce, which won the state title in 1986 and 1988, the loss ends a string of three consecutive trips to the state final four. The Brahmas also lost a regular-season match to Palomar this year.

“They sort of stuck it to us,” Stanley said. “They passed the ball real well and set the ball real well, and we were just a step behind. I thought we’d play much better than we did. . . . We did not run the middle real well. That’s been a problem for us all year.”

Pierce (15-5) hung close in the first game but let it slip away in a 15-10 loss.

“We’re not real tough when we have to be tough,” said Stanley, whose team cruised to the Western State Conference co-championship. “Last year we were always ready to play a tough match.”

Chad Blatchley led Pierce with 22 kills.