Orange Coast Men’s Team Plays for Volleyball Title Today

The Orange Coast College men’s volleyball team will seek its second consecutive final four title today at Santa Monica College.

OCC (20-2), co-champions of the South Coast Conference, will play American River at 10 a.m. and Los Angeles Pierce (20-2) will play Santa Barbara (19-3) at 12:30 p.m.

The losers play at 3 p.m. for third place and the winners play at 7 p.m. for the championship.

There is no official state community college title in volleyball because there is only one conference in the Southern California and one in Northern California.

Coach Bob Wetzel, who is 187-65 in 10 seasons, led OCC to the South Coast Conference title and the final four title last season. The Pirates lost the first two games to Long Beach in the final, but rallied to win, 13-15, 13-15, 15-12, 15-11, 15-13.

Outside hitter Matt Lyles, who has signed to attend Cal State Long Beach next fall, leads OCC with 354 kills. He is joined by up front by Craig Buccola (249 kills) and freshman Lance Lyons (200).

Brad Friesen and Paul Crandell are the starting middle blockers and Travis Turner is the setter for OCC.