Orange Coast dethrones Irvine Valley for top spot in rankings
IRVINE, Calif. - For the first time in seven weeks, there is a new No. 1 team in the California Community College Men’s Volleyball Coaches Association State Poll. Orange Coast moved up from second to first after sweeping previous No. 1 Irvine Valley, 25-20, 25-11, 25-15, last Friday at IVC. Irvine Valley had been on top of the poll for seven straight weeks until this week.
And now three teams have been No. 1 in the poll this season – Long Beach City, Irvine Valley and Orange Coast. The Pirates hit an astounding .417 as a team last Friday in handing Irvine Valley just its second loss and first to a community college team this season. Justin Kam had 13 hills and hit .435, Matt Ujkic had seven kills and hit .875, Bradley Hankus added seven kills and hit .636 and Jordan Hoppe had seven kills for Orange Coast, which won its 12th straight match. OCC has swept in nine of those 12 victories.
Irvine Valley slipped to No. 2 in the poll with Long Beach City continuing to sit in the third spot. Long Beach City has won eight matches in a row. The big mover of the week was El Camino, which jumped from seventh to No. 4 in the rankings. El Camino is 8-2 in its last 10 contests and won at No. 5 Santa Monica, 17-25, 25-21, 25-11, 25-22, last Friday. The Warriors hit .363 in the match and got 24 kills and a .568 hitting clip from state-kill leader Cesar Medina in the victory. PJ Tulikihihifo added 14 kills and Pedro Campos had 45 assists for El Camino.
There are several big matches this week. No. 2 Irvine Valley is at No. 6 Fullerton on Wednesday and No. 8 Golden West is at No. 1 Orange Coast and No. 3 Long Beach City is at No. 4 El Camino on Friday night.
The full top 10 poll can be viewed below.
CCCMVCA State Top 10
1. Orange Coast (13-1)
2. Irvine Valley (11-2)
3. Long Beach City (11-3)
4. El Camino (8-5)
5. Santa Monica (11-3)
6. Fullerton (10-5)
7. LA Pierce (9-5)
8. Golden West (8-5)
9. Moorpark (5-9)
10. Miramar (7-4)
Others receiving votes: Grossmont