The Volleyball Playoff Preview: Regional Round #1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Citrus (14-9) | 21 | 17 | 15 | 0 |
|
Orange Coast (19-2) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Glendora, CA --The Citrus College Volleyball team is back in the California Community College Athletic Association post-season for the first time since 2006. The Owls earned the #13 seed in Southern California and will take on the #4 seed Orange Coast College. The match is set for a 7:00 PM start in Costa Mesa, CA at the Peterson Gymnasium on the campus of Orange Coast College.
About the Matchup
Tuesday's nights meeting will be the second meeting between the two schools this season, and the sixth meeting overall between the two schools since 2006. Earlier in the year, the Pirates swept the Owls in straight sets 25-19, 25-21, and 25-22. Citrus was led by freshman and sophomore middle blockers Kayla Eddings and Kim Collins. Each had 10 kills and each a block. Orange Coast meanwhile was paced by Karlee Riggs' 18 kills and 13 digs. In the previous four matches, the Pirates had won all four matches, sweeping Citrus each and every time.
About Orange Coast
The Pirates have consistently been one of the best volleyball programs in the State over the last half century winning six State Championships, with their last one coming in 2009. Orange Coast College was once again one of the top teams in the State this season, posting an impressive 18-2 overall record and 12-2 mark in the always tough Orange Empire Conference. The Pirates took second place in conference, and were ranked #3 in the State and #2 in Southern California in the final regular season CCCWVCA State Coaches Poll.
Orange Coast only suffered two losses on the year, both coming in their last four matches. The Pirates were stunned in five sets at always tough Irvine Valley College, and then lost their final regular season match at home to Golden West College in straight sets, a loss that cost them the OEC title.
Despite those two losses in their last four matches, the Pirates are considered one of the favorites in this year's post season. Sophomore outside hitter Karlee Riggs led the State in kills per set this season, averaging a whopping 5.64 kills each game. Riggs totaled 327 kills and posted an impressive .331 kill percentage. Sophomore libero Andi Frisina recorded 234 total digs and averaged 3.97 a set, while sophomore setter Allison Lumsden posted 620 assists and a 10.69 assists per set average, the fifth best mark in the State.
Last Time Out
It'll have been nearly a week since the Citrus College Volleyball team took the court for a match. The Owls wrapped up their 2012 regular season on Wednesday November 14th at West Los Angeles College where they swept the Wildcats. Freshman Kayla Eddings led the way for Citrus with a team high 8 kills, 3 blocks, and 7 digs. Sophomore Alexis Lunney matched Eddings' eight kills, while freshman Amanda Stone handed out 16 assists in one and a half sets of work.
The Owls in the Post-Season
It's been six years since the Citrus College Volleyball team played in a playoff match. The Owls' last playoff appearance came back in 2006, when the Owls drew the #5 seed in Southern California. Citrus took on Mt. San Antonio College in the opening round beating the Mounties in straight sets before falling to conference rival Los Angeles Pierce College in five sets in the regional finals. Citrus also made the post-season in 2005, earning the #7 seed and beating Palomar College in four sets in the first round. The Owls then took on El Camino College in the regional finals, falling in four sets to the #3 seed from the South. Those were the only two times that Citrus qualified for the playoffs since 2000.
Citrus Against the Orange Empire
Since the 2008 season, the Citrus College Volleyball team hasn't had the best track record against colleges from the Orange Empire Conference who has hosted the winner of 25 of the last 35 CCCAA titles. Between 2008 and 2011, the Owls went up against a team from the OEC on 10 different occasions, and in each of those matches Citrus was swept. That began to change this season as the Owls went 2-1 against their Orange Empire foes. The Owls defeated Saddleback in five sets to open the season, before dropping that match against the Pirates four matches into the year. Citrus ended their pre-conference play on a high note though when they knocked off then #13 Fullerton College in straight sets in the Owls' Nest back on September 19th.
Coach Jung Says
How to Follow
There are a number of ways in which you can follow the action on Tuesday evening. First is by heading over Costa Mesa and the Peterson Gymnasium on the campus of Orange Coast College for the 7:00 PM start time. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.
If you can't make it out to the playoff match, then please follow our official twitter feed @ccfightingowls where we will be posting live updates throughout the contest. In addition, the scoreboard at the bottom of CitrusOwls.com will be updated with the score throughout the event.