OCC handles Canyons in four

Steve Virgen

For the past six matches, the Orange Coast College women’s

volleyball team had been waiting to see the real OCC women’s

volleyball team. On Tuesday night, the real Pirates came to play and

at such an opportune time.

The Pirates, who went undefeated through their first 14 matches

and then lost three of their last six, delivered what OCC Coach Chuck

Cutenese called one of their top performances of the season

throughout their first two games. OCC dropped its third game, but

regained the flair that had been expected and completed a 30-19,

30-18, 27-30, 30-20 victory over visiting College of the Canyons in

the first round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs.

The Pirates, the fourth seed, will also host the second round

Saturday at 7 p.m., taking on fifth-seeded Cuesta (18-6), a four-game

winner over Grossmont. The second-round match will send the winner to

the state tournament at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton Dec.

5-7.

“The first two games we came out strong and we were playing well,”

Cutenese said. “The third game we got real flat and they took

advantage. We settled down and played well in the fourth game. It was

one of our top performances this year, and it’s nice to be in the

playoffs and say that. Everybody was on. Everybody was passing,

setting and hitting very well. We were very confident and it just

looked good.”

OCC received a boost by the return of freshman outside hitter

Melissa Zapiain, who led with a match-high 18 kills and 29 digs.

Zapiain had been out the past two weeks with a sprained ankle.

However, unlike last year, when OCC was mainly led by sophomore star

Katja Muller, the Pirates are more than one player, Cutenese said.

Sophomore Krystle Davis, one of the Pirates’ team leaders,

contributed 13 kills and also provided advantageous serving in Game

4, while sophomore Casey Petersen added 10 kills. Freshman setter

Jessica Lippi amassed 47 assists and directed the offense that

appeared to be in sync in the first two games.

“The coaches were saying after the second game, ‘this is the best

match we’ve played all year,’” Cutenese said. “But then we had a

little bit of a let up in the third game.”

The Pirates (18-3) built a 10-4 lead in the first game and then a

10-5 lead in the second game, never trailing throughout as they were

dominating. Zapiain, as well as Davis, found open spots in Canyons’

defense and attacked.

“I was really frustrated because I’ve never really been injured or

out, so coming in I was fired up,” Zapiain said. “I had to calm down,

but I had fun.”

Zapiain and Davis saw the makings of a championship team Tuesday

night. The Pirates’ performance was reminiscent of the style of play

that led to their 14 straight wins to open the season. And, it was

the style that reminded the Pirates of their capabilities.

“I think if we play as a team, and not as individuals, and if we

play with heart we can go all the way,” Zapiain said. “We have so

much potential.”

The Cougars (14-8) found some momentum in the third game, as they

traded points with OCC and celebrated each time they drew an

advantage. Trailing 25-23, the Pirates scored three straight points

to earn a 26-25 lead, but Canyons grabbed the momentum again and

outscored OCC, 5-1, down the stretch.

The Pirates answered in Game 4, breaking away from a 10-10 tie

with a 5-0 run led by Davis’ serving. Later, Jessica Lingo served for

five straight points to help give OCC a 21-11 as the Pirates went on

their way to the first-round knockout.

Lingo served for OCC’s final two points, in which Zapiain blocked

for a point and Lingo delivered a service ace.

“I was very confident in my team,” Davis said. “We played strong

in the first two games. My team is really good at coming from behind,

so I wasn’t worried about struggling at all.”