Briefs: Pirates singled out

Orange Coast College’s one-two hitting punch of sophomore Adrian Faitalia and freshman Gianluca Grasso have been named Pacific Coast Conference Co-Players of the Year in men’s volleyball.

In addition, freshman Will Donald was a first-team pick, while freshman Matt Ujkic made the second team and freshman Jordan Hoppe was a third-team honoree for the Pirates (20-2, 13-1 in conference), who claimed the conference championship.

OCC has a bye into the semifinals of the state tournament, April 28 at Los Angeles Pierce College.

Faitalia, a native of Hawaii, led Coach Travis Turner’s squad with 229 kills in the regular season. He hit .445 and also had a team-best 157 digs. He added 35 total blocks and 19 aces.

Grasso, a native of Brazil, led the team with 37 aces, while amassing 210 kills, 131 digs, and 30 total blocks. He hit .306.

Donald, a middle blocker, hit .469 with 74 kills and 60 total blocks. He added 12 aces.

Ujkic, a middle blocker, hit .509 with 99 kills, while adding 51 total blocks.

Hoppe, an opposite, had 118 kills, 94 digs, 39 total blocks and 20 aces.

San Diego Mesa’s Jimmy Lopez was named Coach of the Year.

— From staff reports

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VU’s Estes honored

Vanguard University sophomore Kaitlin Estes has been named Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Week in softball.

Estes, a shortstop, hit .636 and slugged 1.455 by going seven for 11 in four games (three victories) against Menlo College and William Jessup during the week that ended April 16.

She hit two home runs and added three doubles while driving in a combined five runs.

Through April 16, Estes ranked No. 12 in the Golden State Athletic Conference in batting (.353 in conference play), and ranked No. 18 in the NAIA in assists to go with her .913 fielding percentage.

Entering the week, she led the Lions in batting (.358) and shared the team RBI lead with 28.

— From staff reports

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OCC’s Colling lauded

Orange Coast College freshman Clarisa Colling has been named Orange Empire Conference Player of the Year in women’s tennis.

Colling went a combined 28-1 in the regular season. She was 14-1 in singles, including 8-0 in conference play.

She and doubles partner Karen Trinh were 14-0, 8-0 in conference.

Colling is the No. 3 seed in singles and the No. 1 seed in doubles as the Pirates prepare for the upcoming California Community College Athletic Assn. Championships, coinciding with the Ojai Tournament, running Wednesday through Sunday.

“Clarisa is an amazing competitor,” OCC Coach Chris Ketcham said of Colling. “She has done everything we’ve asked of her and she just keeps coming and coming after you. It’s been a real pleasure to have her at OCC this year.”

In addition to Colling’s honor, Ketcham was named the OEC Coach of the Year in his first year as the Pirates’ women’s coach.

Ketcham has been the men’s head coach for nine seasons and was the OEC Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year in 2008.

— From staff reports