Junior College Women’s Volleyball: Golden West sweeps aside Orange Coast College

Sophomore Kate Stanjevich said the most difficult thing about learning the setter position when she arrived at Golden West College was handling all the responsibility. But that is no longer a problem for the 5-foot-6 women’s volleyball standout, who does a little bit of everything for the Rustlers.

Stanjevich’s versatility helped the host Rustlers dispatch Orange Coast, 25-10, 25-21, 25-17, in an Orange Empire Conference match on Wednesday.

“Kate is fantastic,” Golden West Coach Bill Lawler said after Stanjevich produced 13 assists, four block assists, three aces and two kills to help the Rustlers (10-2, 6-1 in conference) top the Pirates (7-10, 2-5) for the eighth consecutive time. “Last year, she set a 5-1. This year, she’s setting, passing and hitting, and she has an unbelievable serve. She’s a phenomenal athlete, who is on the small side, but she’s very quick and very competitive.”

Stanjevich, a former outside hitter at Long Beach Millikan High, had plenty of help, including a match-best 17 kills by 6-2 sophomore outside hitter Cassidy Paperny.

Freshman Jasmine Gonzalez chipped in eight kills, while middle blockers Ashleigh Atsaros, a freshman, and sophomore Samantha Ureno joined libero Sydney Siegel in helping the Rustlers record their ninth sweep of the season.

“Once we’re on, we’re on,” Stanjevich said of her team, which has now won two straight after a five-set loss to fifth-place Irvine Valley on Oct. 5.

Golden West claimed sole possession of second place, one match behind Cypress (14-1, 7-0), which swept Riverside on Wednesday to drop the Tigers into a tie for third with Saddleback (both 5-2 in OEC play).

The Rustlers, who began a stretch of four straight home conference matches, meets visiting Cypress at 6 p.m. Friday.

Atsaros had two kills, three stuff blocks and two block assists, and Ureno had three kills and two block assists.

Sophomore Megan Wiggins shared setting duties to produce 15 assists for the winners.

OCC, which has now lost four straight and six of its last eight matches, was led by sophomore Megan Ritchie, who had 12 assists and three kills.

Freshman middle blockers Tileree Johnson and Funaki Hansen had five kills apiece to lead the OCC attackers.

Stanjevich, who noted that playing defense is her favorite, said she has always attacked volleyball with passion.

“I play every chance I get,” said Stanjevich, who twice went on five-point serving runs. “I love indoor, beach, everything.”

In addition to Paperny’s hitting, Lawler credited his go-to attacker with solid passing.

“Everyone goes after [Paperny] on serve receive, but she’s a tall girl who can really pass the ball,” Lawler said. “She has good ball control.”

Golden West established control early, seizing a 10-1 lead in the first set.

OCC led, 2-0, and, 3-1, in the second set, but those proved to be the Pirates’ only advantages in the 70-minute contest.