Pirates top Dons, fall to Tigers
RIVERSIDE -- The Orange Coast College beach volleyball team earned a split of its two matches on Friday at Riverside City College, topping Santa Ana, 5-0, but falling to the host Tigers, 3-2, in an Orange Empire Conference tri-match.
Against the Dons, it was smooth sailing for the Pirates (11-8, 8-3 in the OEC), with straight-set wins coming from the duos of Kayla Ihrig/Sophie Vienna (21-14, 21-9), Nika Safavi/Brynn Bisher (21-11, 21-12), Lola Fernsten/Ella Hardstaff (21-15, 21-6) and Dezi Butler/Joey Payan (21-6, 21-7). The No. 5 match was won by OCC via forfeit.
Against the Tigers, each set was a battle that earned three-set finals in four of the five matches. The top-two pairs of Ihrig/Vienna (20-22, 21-14, 15-10) and Safavi/Bisher (21-19, 21-16) picked up wins for the Pirates, but RCC earned three-set wins over the final three matchups to claim the narrow victory.
Coast will return to the Newland Courts in Huntington Beach on Friday against Cypress College, beginning at 10 a.m.
