Men’s volleyball: Bucs think they can

Steve Virgen

The train ride began slowly, but picked up great speed toward the

end of last year for the Orange Coast College men’s volleyball team. And,

this season the Pirates just keep on chugging.

OCC won the Long Beach City Tournament last week, including a win over

defending state champion L.A. Pierce, which ended the Pirates’ season

last year in the regional finals.

Last year, Coast went 18-5 to finish second in the Orange Empire

Conference. The Pirates also put together an 11-match win streak near the

end of regular-season competition.

This season, the Pirates feature a strong dose of talent mixed with

experience in eight sophomores, six who are starters.

“What we expect out of the sophomores is a lot of leadership,” said

OCC Coach Chuck Cutenese who is in his ninth year with the Bucs. “We also

have a lot of freshman who are competing for spots. It always brings out

the best in people when they have to compete for a spot.”

Including the eager freshman, Coast will also depend on its depth to

better last year’s mark. The strength of the depth is focused on OCC’s

outside hitters.

Sophomores B.J. Lightvoet, Kevin Goff and freshmen Jeff Taylor and

Soren Schneider have the ability to control the flow of the game and

should be the key in victories.

Schneider, a 6-foot-6 245-pounder from Germany, is a Division-1-type

player who tried to play for a university. But, because of costs, he’s

making the most out of playing for OCC.

Lightvoet was an important reason the Bucs improved in their second

half of conference play last year. After ending the first round of OEC,

3-3, OCC then finished 5-1 as Lightvoet led with a conference-leading 269

kills (6 per game).

“B.J. is expected to carry that same weight, maybe more,” Cutenese

said.

Lightvoet will get most of his kills courtesy of sophomore Nick

Ptaschinski, who is the team’s setter. Ptaschinski finished second in the

conference in assists per game. He also recorded 493 assists, fifth

all-time in single-season feats at OCC.

“He’ll probably close in on that record easily this year,” Cutenese

said of Ptaschinski.

Cutenese is also excited about the libero, the new position in men’s

volleyball. He’s excited about 5-foot-5 Ed Chun who Cutenese calls the

best libero in community college and the sophomore was another big reason

for OCC’s turnaround last year.

The libero is a defensive specialist position in which the player may

enter the game any time during a dead play. He can’t serve or attack.

He’s in there to play defense and pass. His entry and exit is unlimited,

overall, adding defense to men’s volleyball.

The Bucs will bolster their attack with three key freshmen, Cutenese

said. Taylor, the outside hitter from Mission Viejo, Schneider, and RJ

King, a middle middle blocker from Santa Margarita High.

2001 OCC Men’s Volleyball

1 Ryan Owens 6-6 So. MB

3 Nick Ptaschinski 6-0 So. S

4 RJ King 6-6 Fr. MB

6 Ed Chun 5-5 So. Lib

7 Kevin Goff 6-1 So. OH

8 B.J. Lightvoet 6-3 So. OH

9 Nate Hallett 6-5 So. Opp

10 Jeff Taylor 6-3 Fr. OH

11 Soren Schneider 6-6 Fr. OH

12 Morgan Jackson 6-5 Fr. MB

13 Dave Engle 6-4 So. MB

14 Sevag Kazanci 6-2 Fr. Opp

15 Josh Miller 6-0 So. OH

16 Ivan Betancourt 6-1 Fr. S

18 John Campbell 6-5 Fr. OH

Coach: Chuck Cutenese (ninth year)