Golden West Wins Conference Title in Volleyball

Golden West clinched the Orange Empire Conference men’s volleyball title with a four-game victory over Orange Coast Friday at Golden West.

Chad Mowrey had 22 kills, Jon Thompson 18, and Evan Hook 17 as Golden West won, 8-15, 15-7, 15-12, 15-8. It was the second conference title in three seasons for Golden West.

The Rustlers, who have won four consecutive state titles, advance to the state tournament starting Friday at Long Beach. Golden West finishes with a 15-1 conference record.

The Rustlers’ only loss was in five games to OCC, which would have won a share of the conference title with a victory.

Jared Starling and Nicolas Dominik had 17 kills each for Orange Coast (13-3 in conference), which plays Santa Barbara in the playoffs Tuesday. Grossmont is at Long Beach in the other playoff match Tuesday and the winners join Golden West and Los Angeles Pierce in the state tournament Friday and Saturday.

In the Orange Empire Conference women’s tennis championships:

Jaeger wins title--Orange Coast’s Camilla Jaeger completed an impressive run in the conference tournament by beating Saddleback’s Karen Amos, 6-1, 6-3. Jaeger didn’t lose a set in five matches.

In Orange Empire Conference softball:

Cypress 4, Irvine Valley 0--Mandy Rockwell (23-1) struck out seven and gave up two hits in six innings for first-place Cypress (44-7, 13-1).

Fullerton 5, Saddleback 4--Kia Flores scored two runs for visiting Fullerton (28-9, 10-4).

Riverside 4, Golden West 0--Roxy Packard went three for four with a stolen base for Golden West (15-18, 5-9).

Santa Ana 3, Orange Coast 1--Erica Pilkington (13-15) struck out eight and walked two in a four-hitter and Rachelle Nguyen drove in the winning run with a single in the fourth inning to help Coach Kim Nutter earn her 200th victory in eight seasons at Santa Ana.