Community college men’s volleyball: OCC advances to state final

LONG BEACH - The Orange Coast College men’s volleyball team went

old school before taking on El Camino in the semifinals of the California

Community College Men’s Volleyball Championship Friday. The Pirates’

throwback methods proved instrumental in a 25-17, 25-22, 25-22 victory

over the Warriors.

For the Bucs’ final practice of the season, Coast Coach Chuck Cutenese

said his team followed OCC tradition and wore 1970s attire -- tiny

shorts, tank tops, head bands and knee-high socks. Cutenese said the

light mood allowed his Pirates to dodge pressure, giving way to the

semifinal win.

OCC will play in tonight’s State Championship game against defending

state champion L.A. Pierce at 7.

“That was a real ice-breaker,” Cutenese said of Thurday’s practice.

“It wasn’t the practice I had in mind, but sometimes you need that sort

of ice-breaker to get you ready for a big match.”

OCC sophomore outside hitter B.J. Lightvoet, a Costa Mesa High

product, slammed a team-high 12 kills. Cutenese said Lightvoet did not

experience pain in his right hand that had been causing him problems

previously. Pirates freshman Soeren Schneider recorded nine kills, while

sophomore Dave Engle had eight. Sophomore setter Nick Ptsachinski served

up 35 assists and sophomore libero Ed Chun had 12 digs to set a single-season OCC record with 223.

The Bucs (21-1) coasted to an easy win in Game 1 and Game 2. They

overcame a 17-14 deficit, outscoring the Warriors (12-6), 11-5 down the

stretch in Game 3. OCC earned its first lead at 22-21 and Lightvoet later

pounded his 12th kill to close out the match.

“It was nice for us to be pushed at the end,” Cutenese said of the

Game 3 battle. “That’s important for when we play (Pierce).”

L.A. Pierce defeated the Bucs in five games on March 23 and also

ousted them from last year’s playoffs.