Loiola, Kitakuni named OCC Athletes of the Year
COSTA MESA -- Orange Coast College men's volleyball player, Victor Loiola and women's tennis athlete. Mebuki Kitakuni were named this year's OCC Athletes of the Year, as voted on by the coaches and staff.
Loiola, a 6'4 outside hitter from Mira Costa High School, came to OCC last year and immediately became the go-to hitter. In just 20 matches, Loiola led OCC with 192 kills and 88 digs. He was second on the squad with 27 aces and third in total blocks with 47.
"I was hesitant at first about coming to a junior college because of the stigma around it, and I wasn't sure what to expect," Loiola said. "But the moment I got to Orange Coast, it was nothing like I imagined. There's a phenomenal coaching staff and a program built with purpose. Not only did they develop us as players, but they also helped shape us as men. This place challenged me in every way, and I'm grateful for every part of it. There's no place I'd rather have gone through that struggle than Orange Coast. I love this program, and I'm thankful for everything it's given me."
The Loiola-led Pirates finished the 2026 season an impressive 23-2 overall and 13-1 in conference play, helping Coast earn the top spot in conference play for the 10th season in a row. He saved his best match for his Pirate finale as he ripped a season-high 23 kills, 10 digs and four total blocks in a hard-fought, five-set loss to Fullerton College on April 17 in the State Quarterfinals. On team that featured several guys who could lead the OCC offense, Loiola still managed to produce 10-or-more kills seven different times, despite 19 of Coast's matches ending in three-set sweeps.
"Victor is one of the most skilled players we've had at Orange Coast during my tenure," OCC head coach Travis Turner said of Loiola. "He's just a really good, well-rounded player. I look forward to watching him play at Long Beach State next year at one of the top programs in the country."
As for Kitakuni, OCC's sophomore tennis standout from Japan had to not only adjust to college life, but she did so while learning the language and culture of a completely different country.
"My two years at Orange Coast College have meant a lot to me," Kitakuni said. "As an international student, being part of the tennis team helped me improve my English a lot because I was always communicating with my teammates and coaches every day. I was nervous at first, but everyone supported me and made me feel comfortable. "I'm especially thankful for all the support from my coaches. They always encouraged me both on and off the court, and they helped me grow not only as a player but also as a person. I'm also very thankful for my teammates. Through the tennis program, I was able to meet lifelong friends and make many unforgettable memories. These years were very busy because of tennis, classes, and balancing everything together, but actually being busy helped motivate me to work harder in school too. Being a student athlete taught me time management, responsibility, and how to keep pushing myself. I'm very thankful for my experience at OCC and for everyone who supported me during these two years. Thank you again for this special honor!"
As a sophomore, Kitakuni helped return the Pirates (22-2) back to the 3C2A State Semifinals for the second year in a row. In singles play, Kitakuni finished the season 25-3 and advanced all the way to the semifinals of the 3C2A Women's Tennis Singles Championships, capping off her season ranked No. 3 in the state. In doubles, she joined teammate, Kaylee Ho, and advanced to the state quarterfinals, going 18-4 overall for the season.
Her solid sophomore season was a continuation of her impressive freshman year with the women's tennis squad as Kitakuni helped Coast to a 17-2 team record and another State Final Four finish. In both of her seasons, Coast won or shared the Orange Empire Conference title, a streak for the program that has now reached 10 consecutive seasons.
"She's been just an absolute pleasure to have on the team," OCC head coach, Chris Ketcham said of Kitakuni. "She's a great teammate, humble about her tennis talents, very popular with her teammates and opponents, which says a lot about who she is off the court. She's a phenomenal athlete, can hit any and every shot under pressure when it matters, great thinker on the court with a high tennis IQ."
