Orange Coast College opens 2019 season atop initial coaches volleyball poll

IRVINE - Orange Coast was the overwhelming choice for the No. 1 spot in the first California Community College Men’s Volleyball Coaches Association State Poll of 2019. The Pirates received the top vote in the ranking from every coach. Through last Wednesday, Orange Coast had a record of 5-0 and had dropped just three sets overall. Their toughest matches came over the previous week. OCC defeated No. 3 El Camino in five sets at home last Friday and then won at Long Beach City in four sets Wednesday night. Kyle McCauley led the way with 35 kills over those two wins for the Pirates.

Long Beach City came in at No. 2 in the opening week. The Vikings swept Grossmont and Miramar in matches last week before falling to Orange Coast. Uriel Batista had 14 kills for LBCC against OCC.

El Camino earned the No. 3 position after sweeping in three of its four contests so far. It beat Fullerton 25-21, 25-23, 25-17 on Wednesday and has a big showdown with No. 4 Irvine Valley next Friday (Feb. 22) at IVC.

Irvine Valley is 4-3 overall, but 3-1 against community college foes. The Lasers swept at Pierce on Wednesday night behind nine kills by Sean Carroll.

Santa Barbara City and Moorpark tied for the fifth spot. Moorpark was off to a solid 4-1 start with its only loss coming in five sets at No. 7 Golden West and Santa Barbara’s only defeat so far has been in four sets to No. 4 Irvine Valley.

The rest of the top 10 poll can be viewed below.

CCCMVCA State Top 10 (thru Feb. 13)
1. Orange Coast (5-0)
2. Long Beach City (4-2)
3. El Camino (3-1)|
4. Irvine Valley (4-3)
T5.. Moorpark (4-1)
T5. Santa Barbara City (3-1)
7. Golden West (2-2)
8. Santiago Canyon (2-2)
9. Miramar (1-2)
10. LA Pierce (1-2)
Others receiving votes: Grossmont, Santa Monica, Antelope Valley, Fullerton, Palomar  

(Brent Shaver, CCCMVBCA)