OCC Volleyball Is Used to Adversity

It took a little time but Orange Coast men’s volleyball Coach Chuck Cutenese found a way to make something positive out of last year’s emotional loss in the state championship match.

The only problem is he didn’t think he would be calling on it so soon.

But just as this season was about to start, Orange Coast lost four players--two to academic failures and two to injuries.

Suddenly, Cutenese found himself dealing with adversity again. The Pirates had been the best team in the state the second half of the season and rolled into the title match against Golden West. Orange Coast already had beaten the Rustlers twice during the season but lost a grueling five-game match.

“It was tough,” said Cutenese who is in his sixth season. “but we worked through it. It was a huge learning experience for me. I could have prepared the team better. It refocused me as far as getting the team ready for a match.”

There were rumors that disgruntled players were going to transfer, but none did and Cutenese was able to hold his program together.

Then the ranks started thinning. Two were declared academically ineligible. Tim Tamas went down with a pulled stomach muscle and is still out. Darin McBain injured an ankle and just recently returned, although not at full speed. Despite the setbacks, the Pirates are 8-0, 6-0 and in first place in the Orange Empire Conference.

Orange Coast is at Mt. San Antonio (1-6, 1-6) Wednesday, then hosts Los Angeles Pierce (6-1, 6-1) Friday and is at Long Beach (8-0, 8-0) Saturday. “It’s a good time to have three matches in a week,” Cutenese said, “because our legs are still fresh.”

Among the players to step in and shine are freshman outside hitters Fernando Sabla and Andy Murdie. Kevin Reid, who is the team captain and floor leader, has switched to outside hitter after playing at the opposite spot last season and is doing well.

Jason Klems, who played for OCC in 1995 and freshman Josh Richardson have also provided solid middle defense replacing Brad Callahan and Troy Langely, who have moved on to four-year colleges. Callahan is playing at USC and Langely is at La Verne.

Setter has been the one position that has remained stable for the Pirates. Matt Wright and Robert Cammarata are both back.

“The lineup is working really well,” Cutenese said. “We’re really lucky we have a lot of depth. You never know how many injuries you’re going to have.”