Nadelson, Schmidt Named POTW as Postseason Quickly Approaches

With the regular season entering its final stretch, the race for playoff positioning continues to intensify. Undefeated Orange Coast remains firmly in control at the top, while several teams are battling for automatic bids and the opportunity to host in the opening round. This past week featured multiple five-set battles and key results that continue to shape the postseason picture.

In the South:

No. 1 Orange Coast College continued its dominant run, adding two more wins to remain perfect on the season at 22-0. OCC holds the top spot in the Southern Region standings and is in position to host a first-round playoff match. No. 7 Miramar split its matches on the week, earning an impressive win over No. 2 Golden West before falling in five sets to No. 9 San Diego Mesa. Mesa went 2-0, defeating Santiago Canyon in four sets earlier in the week. No. 10 Grossmont dropped a four-set match to Irvine Valley on Wednesday but rebounded with a win over Palomar on Friday.

In the North:

In the North, No. 3 Santa Barbara City College picked up a key five-set victory over No. 5 Long Beach on Wednesday. LBCC responded later in the week, bouncing back with a five-set win over No. 4 Santa Monica on Sophomore Night. No. 6 Fullerton had a strong week, earning wins over No. 8 Moorpark on Wednesday and El Camino on Friday to stay firmly in the playoff race.

The race for postseason positioning remains tight, as Santa Monica, Long Beach, and Fullerton are all battling for an automatic bid and the opportunity to host a first-round playoff match.

Jasper Nadelson, So., MB, Fullerton
Nadelson was a dominant force at the net in a pair of wins for Fullerton, leading the Hornets to victories over Moorpark and El Camino. In the four-set win over Moorpark, he was nearly unstoppable offensively, recording 14 kills on 18 swings for an outstanding .778 hitting percentage, while also contributing 14 block assists. He followed that performance with 9 kills on .467 hitting and 4 blocks in a sweep of El Camino. Across both matches, Nadelson's efficiency and presence at the net played a key role in Fullerton's success.

Brennan Schmidt, So., S/OPP, Miramar
Schmidt showcased his versatility in Miramar's split week, contributing across all facets of the match in contests against Golden West and San Diego Mesa. In a four-set win over Golden West and a five-set battle against Mesa, Schmidt totaled 19 kills while hitting .421, along with 52 assists and 11 digs. His ability to impact the match as both a scorer and facilitator highlights the all-around skill set that continues to drive Miramar's offense.

Courtesy of the CCCMVCA