Pirates in pursuit of state title

Orange Coast College women’s volleyball standout Briana Fields knows what she wants for her birthday.

The 5-foot-11 sophomore middle blocker would consider a state championship considerably more than icing on the cake.

The Pirates (20-2) will begin pursuit of what would be their third state crown in five seasons Friday, when the California Community College Athletic Assn. championships begin at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton.

OCC, the No. 1 seed among four Southern California teams, begins the eight-team, double-elimination event Friday at 5:30 p.m. against Sierra (21-9).

Sierra is the No. 4 seed from the north.

Fields, who helped Coach Chuck Cutenese’s squad finish fourth in last year’s state tournament, anchors a crew of sophomores who appear to be helping OCC peak at the right time.

Fields was among six Southern California players named all-state after producing 207 kills and a .326 hitting percentage in the regular season.

Fields will celebrate her 19th birthday on Sunday, when the semifinals and final will be held.

Other sophomore standouts for OCC include 5-10 outside hitter Poerava Gantt, Rachel Freeno, Nikki Osuna, Karlee Skalla, Alex Mainini and Amanda Cheseborough.

Gantt paced the team with 276 regular-season kills, while Osuna has 435 digs, leaving her 16 short of surpassing Ashlie Moon for the school single-season record set in 2006.

OCC, ranked No. 6 in the state, also relies upon freshman setter Kimya Jafroudi and freshman super sub Kristin Rice.

If victorious Friday, OCC would advance to Saturday’s winner’s bracket quarterfinal.

Friday’s first-round losers play Friday night in an elimination match.

OCC won state titles in 2006 and 2005. This is its fourth trip to the state tournament in the last five seasons.

— Barry Faulkner