Sixth State Title Makes Sense to Golden West

Golden West, winner of the past five state community college titles in men’s volleyball, is in position to win a sixth.

The Rustlers (13-4) play Long Beach at 4:30 p.m. today in a state semifinal at Irvine Valley College.

Golden West defeated Long Beach, 12-15, 15-3, 15-12, 16-14, on March 10 in their only meeting this season. Long Beach (13-3), the No. 1 team from the South Coast Conference, is seeded second in the playoffs.

In the other semifinal, beginning at 7 tonight, top-seeded Grossmont (15-1), the No. 1 team from the Orange Empire Conference, plays L.A. Pierce (13-4), the No. 2 team from the South Coast Conference.

Golden West, the No. 2 team from the Orange Empire Conference, is 0-2 against Grossmont this year and lost its only match against Pierce.

The final is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at Irvine Valley.

“This is going to be one of the most competitive [state] tournaments in quite a while,” Golden West Coach Mike D’Alesandro said. “In the past there was usually a team or two clearly better than the others, but this year all four teams have a legitimate shot.”

Travis Nelson, a freshman setter from Newport Harbor High, is the key to Golden West’s offense. He averaged 15.3 assists, third-best in the Orange Empire Conference.

Sophomore outside hitter Anthony Medel leads the Rustlers with 257 kills, including 20 in a regional playoff victory Tuesday against his former team, Santa Barbara. Sophomores Marshall Roberts and Scott Archbold have also been effective from the outside.

Middle blockers Mike Deal (86 blocks) and Dave Cornett (84) control the net on defense for Golden West, which enters tonight’s contest on a four-match winning streak. Its last defeat came against Grossmont on April 5.

D’Alesandro said moving Archbold from a back-row position to hitter has helped the Rustlers make a late-season surge.

“It’s kind of balanced our whole attack,” he said.

D’Alesandro has won state titles in each of his four seasons since taking over as Rustler coach in 1996. His overall record is 86-11, but he says the streak eases pressure rather than adding to it.

“We’d love to keep the streak alive,” D’Alesandro said. “But we’re pretty pleased just to be here and have a chance. I think having some championships in the bank makes it easier because we aren’t out there trying to win our first one.”

Admission each night is $5 for adults, $3 for students with valid ID, and free for children under 12.