COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS : Orange Coast Returns With Win at Pierce

Before Wednesday night, the Orange Coast College men’s volleyball team hadn’t made an appearance in the Pierce College gym in four years. But the Orange Coast team, which was disbanded in 1982 because of budget cuts, came back and took little time to defeat defending state champion Pierce in a South Coast Conference match, 15-11, 16-14, 15-10.

Orange Coast (28-2, 14-0 in conference) is assured of a spot in the playoffs. Pierce (13-6, 9-6) must defeat Westmont College next week to qualify.

Joe Sorenson and Ron Dugar each finished with 10 kills for Pierce, but Brahma Coach Ken Stanley was displeased with the teams’ overall performance.

“A couple of our guys got blocked early on,” Stanley said. “We usually put the ball away more than that. We didn’t block or play defense for anything, in my mind.”

Pierce played tentatively and trailed throughout the first game before coming within three points near game’s end.

In the second game, Pierce trailed, 3-9, before outside hitter Dugar hit seven kills to help the Brahmas to a 14-12 lead. Orange Coast came back and scored the next four points on two blocks and two successful spikes to end the game, 16-14.

“They beat us with great defense,” Stanley said.