Bucs open regionals

The Orange Coast College women’s volleyball team is the No. 5 seed and will open the Southern California Regional playoffs at home tonight at 7 against No. 12-seeded Palomar.

With Friday’s sweep of Santa Ana to end the regular season, the Pirates (18-2) finished tied for first place in the Orange Empire Conference.

The Pirates earned a better seed than fellow champion Cypress, the No. 6 seed, by way of a tiebreaker.

Coach Chuck Cutenese’s Pirates, ranked No. 7 in the state, have won 11 of their last 12 matches.

Sophomore outside hitter Poerava Gantt (274 kills and 281 digs) and sophomore middle blocker Briana Fields (207 kills, 109 digs and 40 blocks) have led the way for OCC.

OCC sophomore libero Nikki Osuna has 393 digs.

Palomar (16-4), the Pacific Coast Conference co-champion, is ranked No. 20 in the state. It has won 14 of its last 15 matches.

— From staff reports