Pirates take third straight to start the season

COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College women's volleyball team made it a clean sweep over visiting Citrus on Wednesday, winning the nonconference matchup, 25-23, 25-13, 25-22, inside the Peterson Gym.

Sara Enright had a fantastic night of offense, with a team-best 18 kills for the Pirates, winners of three straight to start the 2021 season. Summer Hanks added 10 kills, while Faith Jones knocked down six. Defensively, OCC libero Emily Payne led the way with 11 digs, while setter Ellie Winter dished out 28 assists.

It definitely had the makings of a long night of volleyball as the visiting Owls took advantage of some errant serves and returns and hung tough with the Pirates throughout the opening set. Both teams traded blows throughout the middle portion of the set before a three-point mini-run by the Pirates put the hosts up, 22-20. Citrus tried to get back even with the Pirates, but ever point earned by the Owls was returned by the Pirates, who used kills by Enright and Paige Cutright down the stretch to hold on for the 25-23 win.

Coast had a bit of an easier time in the second set as the Pirates jumped out to a 10-4 advantage. Citrus continued to prove pesky with a 5-1 win to make it 11-9 before Coast pulled away for good with five straight points. OCC cruised from there and the Pirates carried a 2-0 lead in the match after an 8-1 run closed things out.

In the third set, it was Citrus which jumped ahead early and carried a 22-20 advantage into the final few points.

But the Owls were their own worst enemy as a pair of double-contact violations -- an infraction Citrus committed nine different times in the match. Coast took advantage and ripped off the final five points to pull out the sweep.

OCC will return to the Peterson Gym on Friday against Long Beach City College, beginning at 6 p.m. This reminder to all fans that masks will be required throughout the match.