Men’s volleyball: Pirates fall to L.A. Pierce in four

Steve Virgen

LONG BEACH - Simply put, the Orange Coast College men’s volleyball

team, “got tight and defending state champion L.A. Pierce didn’t,”

Pirates Coach Chuck Cutenese said.

The OCC coach described his team’s performance in a fourth game that

ended the Bucs’ season with the runner-up status in the California

Community College Championships Saturday night at Long Beach City

College.

OCC nemesis L.A. Pierce didn’t get tight and won, 26-16, 25-23, 21-25,

29-27, capturing its second straight state title and recording its first

undefeated season (19-0). The Brahmas also handed OCC (21-2) its only two

losses of the season.

“We responded well after such a flat start,” Cutenese said. “Bottom

line: When you have two good teams like that ... I look at ball control

and unforced errors. Down the stretch, they were a steadier team.”

After the Brahmas easily won Game 1, they fought off the pesky Bucs in

a pivotal Game 2, which had five lead changes and 15 ties. OCC, however,

answered with an electrifying effort in Game 3.

Perhaps the highlight of the evening came when OCC went up, 20-16,

after B.J. Lightvoet, a Costa Mesa High product, stuffed a would-be kill.

Lightvoet, who experienced pain in his right hitting hand throughout

the match, skied for three consecutive blocks in the rally which ended

with his block amid loud cheers from teammates and Pirates’ fans.

OCC had grabbed the momentum and carried it into Game 4. The Pirates,

with intense play, built a 15-12 lead, yet the Brahmas would fire back

with three straight points, which included a service ace.

The teams battled back and forth until two straight OCC errors gave

Pierce the game, the match and the state championship.

Lightvoet finished with 18 kills and earned a spot on the state

tournament team. Sophomore setter Nick Ptaschinski was awarded the same

honors as he dished out 55 assists.

Coast freshman Morgan Jackson, a Corona del Mar High grad, and Ryan

Owens smashed five blocks each, while freshman Soeren Schneider

contributed 14 kills and six blocks.

Libero Ed Chun had 12 digs to finish with 235 for the season, setting

a new school record previously held by Mike Melcher (214) in 1994.

Lightvoet, who was OCC’s kill leader this season, said his hand, “was

really blue,” after the match, but despite the loss, he wore a proud

smile.

“We weren’t about to let it up, no chance,” Lightvoet said of his

team’s 2-0 deficit. “We’re a fighting team. We’re not just going to let

it go, especially in the state playoffs.”

The Pirates last won a state title in 1994 when they defeated Pierce.

OCC last competed for a state title in 1997.

Already, however, the Bucs’ freshmen are hungry for next year.

Said Jackson, “We will be here next year. Guaranteed.”