Pirates top Dons, Chargers in OEC double-dip
LONG BEACH -- The Orange Coast College beach volleyball team made quick work of Orange Empire Conference foes, Santa Ana and Cypress on Friday, topping the Dons, 5-0 and the Chargers, 4-1, at Belmont Shore.
In the 5-0 win over Santa Ana, straight-set wins were posted by the pairs of Corinne Williams/Brisa Zapata-Reaves (21-4, 21-5), Jesse Coralle/Lexy Mendoza (21-17, 21-9), Paige Cutwright/Alexandra Selivanov (21-13, 21-8) and Izzy Duchaine/Theresia Amtmann (21-8, 21-10). The duo of Leah Thibault/Kingsley Mason needed three sets, but still came out on top, winning, 21-18, 18-21, 15-10.
Against the Chargers, more straight-set wins from the top-three pairs with Williams/Zepata-Reaves (21-14, 21-13), Coralle/Mendoza (21-6, 21-17) and Cutwright/Selivanov (21-13, 21-11) cruising to victory. In the No. 5 match, the team of Natalia Brandlin and Rose Whitter battled through three tough sets, before prevailing, 21-9, 13-21, 16-14.
With the two wins on Friday, the Pirates improve to 10-2 overall and 5-0 in the OEC ... the only unbeaten conference team of the bunch. Coast is one game ahead of second-place Santa Ana and two losses ahead of Cypress (4-2) for the top spot in the standings.
Coast will return to action on Friday at the Newland Courts in Huntington Beach as the Pirates host Golden West at 10 a.m. and Santa Ana at 12 p.m.
