Long Beach opens volleyball season atop coaches poll
IRVINE, Calif. - Long Beach City was the overwhelming choice for the top spot in the inaugural California Community College Men’s Volleyball Coaches Association State Poll, released on Monday. The Vikings, who are the defending state champions, received the No. 1 vote in the poll from all 10 coaches. Long Beach City opened the season with a 25-17, 25-19, 25-15 victory over Grossmont last Friday at home. Cyrus Fa’Alogo led the way for LBCC with 14 kills as the Vikings hit .429 as a team on the night.
Orange Coast came in at No. 2 in the poll. The Pirates look to have another strong team after finishing as the runner-up to Long Beach City for the state title last season. OCC won the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference last season and ended up 21-3 overall. The Pirates open the season this Wednesday at El Camino.
Two more members of the new Orange Empire Conference volleyball conference came in at the third and fourth spots in the rankings. Irvine Valley, with Tom Pestolesi back coaching the team, was third and Golden West, which won 18 matches and took Long Beach City to five sets before losing in the state semis, was picked fourth. IVC opens the season at Pierce Wednesday night and Golden West hosts Moorpark Wednesday.
And Santa Monica, which also made the semis of the state championship last season, rounded out the top five of the rankings.
The rest of the top 10 poll can be viewed below.
CCCMVCA State Top 10
1. Long Beach City (1-0)
2. Orange Coast
3. Irvine Valley
4. Golden West
5. Santa Monica
6. Fullerton (2-0)
7. El Camino
8. Santa Barbara City (0-1)
9. Grossmont (0-1)
10. Moorpark
Others receiving votes: Miramar, LA Pierce, San Diego Mesa