Condemned Gym Does Not Dampen High Expectations of Pierce Men : College volleyball: Brahmas should contend for WSC title despite practicing or playing at five off-campus locations.

Virtual vagabonds, the men’s volleyball players at Pierce College are ready to begin Western State Conference play tonight at a place they can’t call home.

The Brahmas have been practicing at three sites because their gym was condemned after the Jan. 17 earthquake. Still, they have high hopes heading into the 7 p.m. match against Santa Monica City at the Valley College women’s gym.

Pierce won the Long Beach City College tournament last week and Coach Ken Stanley anticipates another strong season. The Brahmas were 15-4 last year and tied Long Beach City for the WSC title before losing in the semifinals of the Southern California regional. In 1992, Pierce won the state championship.

“If we don’t challenge for the conference championship, I’ll be disappointed,” Stanley said. “I think we can be a good blocking team and I think we have some pretty good (hitting). I like our physical ability.”

The Brahmas have prepared for the season under difficult circumstances. The Brahmas will play their home matches at Valley College or Taft High and have been practicing from 5:45 a.m. to 8 a.m. on weekdays at Pepperdine, Valley and Agoura High.

The schedule has been demanding, to say the least. “It’s not very much fun, that’s for sure,” Stanley said. “It’s almost like being an off-campus coach. I’ve been so worried about getting a place to practice and play that I feel like I haven’t been on top of things.”

Leading the Brahmas are outside hitters Branden Higa, a 6-foot-4 sophomore from Quartz Hill High, and Brad Schultz, a 6-3 freshman from Van Nuys High.

Among the other projected starters are Gabe Higa, Branden’s brother, a 6-4 opposite hitter and transfer from Irvine Valley College. Higa played basketball but no volleyball at Irvine.

Dan Nash, a 5-10 freshman setter from Chatsworth High who is a converted outside hitter, has won a starting job. Also slated to start are Felipe Placencia, a 6-2 freshman outside hitter from Ventura High, and Jason Rang, a 6-3 redshirt freshman middle player from Bend, Ore.

Two returning sophomores, 6-5 middle blocker Pete Blied and 6-foot outside hitter Jean Masquesmay from Monroe High, will play reserve roles. Also helping will be freshmen Mark Smith, a 6-foot setter from Lakewood, Colo., Cesar Gutierrez, a 6-2 opposite hitter from Cleveland High and Kevin Barnett, a 6-7 opposite hitter.