Pirates make it 63 straight

Orange Coast cuts it close in the third game against Mount SAC in the first round of the Southern California Regional playoffs, but keeps its composure for the win.COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College women’s volleyball team had another in a series of close games that have threatened its season-long streak of consecutive wins.

But as usual, the Pirates stayed cool under pressure, coming from behind several times in the third game to secure a 30-22, 30-22, 31-29 sweep of Mount San Antonio College in the first round of the Southern California regional playoffs Wednesday night at Orange Coast College.

The Pirates, seeded No. 1 in the playoffs, have won all 63 of their games this season en route to a 21-0 record. They advanced to the second round on Saturday, when they will play the winner of the Santa Monica-Victor Valley match at Orange Coast College at 7 p.m.

Santa Monica (14-9) is ranked eighth in the playoffs and Victor Valley (18-1) is ranked ninth.

A Pirates victory Saturday would land them in the California Community College Women’s Volleyball Championships Dec. 9-11 at Selland Arena in Fresno.

After winning the first two games handily, the Pirates fell behind several times in the third game. They received a boost from right-side hitter Aabria Lipscomb, who delivered a kill to tie the score at 10-10 shortly after her first appearance in the match.

For the playoff opener, Orange Coast Coach Chuck Cutenese used two setters -- a tactic he has used off and on this season -- which limited Lipscomb’s playing time.

But the Pirates, who captured their first Orange Empire Conference title since 2001 this season, kept falling behind. Mount SAC’s Ashley Walker and Amber Herrera came up with big blocks for points as the Mounties took a 17-13 lead.

Orange Coast trailed, 20-15, when kills by 6-foot-2 middle blocker Samantha Connor and blocks for points by Connor and Brittany Ray moved the Pirates to within striking distance. Another block for a point by Connor tied the score at 20-20, but the Pirates found themselves behind again, 22-20, after a Mount SAC sideout and an ace by the Mounties’ Mary Lind.

“Actually, we were kind of worried,” Connor said. “But we’re used to coming out ahead. We know how to keep our focus.”

Mount SAC (13-8) took its last lead at 28-27 on a kill by Walker. The game was tied twice more before a kill by Kiwi Winkler gave Orange Coast a 30-29 lead. Nicole Klawitter went back to the outside hitter, who delivered the match-ending kill.

“In those situations, we don’t play like we’re scared to lose,” said Connor, a first-team All-Orange Empire Conference selection who had 10 kills and four blocks. “We stay aggressive.”

Libero Ashlee Moon and Ray also were All-Orange Empire Conference picks for Orange Coast. Setter Caitlin Parker and freshman outside hitter Joanna Johnson were second-team selections. Freshman middle blocker Jennifer Chiffer was an honorable mention pick for the Pirates.

Winkler, who came into the playoffs with a state-best average of 5.59 kills per game, surpassed her average with a match-high 20 kills in three games.

“She’s just so steady,” Cutenese said. “You can rely on her every match, which allows you to focus on other players.”

Parker dished out 30 assists for the Pirates. Ray and Winkler added 14 digs each in a match.

“I don’t know if I was worried as much as I liked the fact that we were pushed,” Cutenese said. “Mount SAC gave us a good challenge, which should help us going into our next match.”

Orange Coast trailed once in the first game, 1-0, before quickly taking command. Winkler, Connor and Johnson combined for 11 kills, and Winkler delivered two aces. The Pirates led, 28-13, before a 6-0 run by the Mounties helped make the score closer.

“Our ball control let up a bit at the end of game one and for parts of games two and three,” Cutenese said.

In game two, the Mounties pulled as close as 12-11 before the Pirates pulled away. A kill by Winkler and a block by Eva Johnson on Walker gave Orange Coast the momentum and a 17-12 lead. Winkler served up an ace and Johnson added a kill to put the Pirates in position to win. Winkler, the Orange Empire Conference MVP, closed the game with a thundering kill.

Winkler surpassed the 300-kill mark for the season on her 12th kill of the night and now has 309 kills this season.

Connor and Ray are tied for second on the team with 146 kills each. Johnson has 131 kills.

Parker’s 30 assists gives her 571 in 21 matches. Ray has a team-high 34 service aces.

Orange Coast defeated Mount SAC, 30-25, 30-18, 30-20, in the teams’ only other meeting of the season on Sept. 28 at Mount SAC.20051201O41LH56ANo Caption20051201iqsxzuknMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)OCC’s Samantha Connor, right, blocks Brittany Black’s tip in the first game of Wednesday’s match.20051201iqsy08knMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Orange Coast College’s Ashlee Moon, left, and Kiwi Winkler both go after the ball during Wednesday’s match against Mount SAC.