Men’s Volleyball: Lights go out at OCC

The plan for Travis Turner on Wednesday night was to coach volleyball, honor a local owner of a rib eatery, and then go eat ribs at that restaurant.

Volleyball, a ceremony and ribs, what’s there not to like?

Those dinner plans at Newport Rib Company moved up earlier than expected for Turner.

“I think we’re going to head over there right now,” Turner joked.

On the night Turner’s Orange Coast College men’s volleyball team was going to pay tribute to John Ursini, an ardent supporter of OCC and local high school sports, the lights went out inside the gym in the first set.

The match between the host Pirates (7-1) and Irvine Valley (3-3) will resume Saturday at 7 p.m.

“It’s brutal, especially to have the momentum,” said Turner, whose team led, 22-14, in Game 1.

“[Not being able to recognize Ursini is] the biggest bummer to me. They all took the time to come.”

About 150 fans showed up for the event. The proceeds from the match went to Costa Mesa United, a non-profit organization that provides grants for youth sports programs and facilities in Costa Mesa.

Most in the crowd stayed put after the power went out in the gym, as well as throughout the campus and nearby neighborhood. Fans used their cell phones as flashlights.

Fifty-four minutes after it went dark, officials called off the Pacific Coast Conference opener.

“It’s an Edison issue. It’s not an Orange Coast issue,” Turner said. “[The power going out had] never happened, not in the middle of a match [during my 10 seasons as OCC’s coach].”

One coach who was OK with the postponement was Irvine Valley’s Miguel Monterola, who filled in for Ki Yi as the head coach.

“It’s unfortunate more for [Orange] Coast because [the Pirates] were beating us by [eight],” Monterola said. “I think that it gives us a chance to reset and helps us out at the end of the day. I can’t be too mad about it.”

— David Carrillo Peñaloza