OCC blanks Mounties, 5-0, in non-conference Beach Volleyball match

Photo Courtesy of DavesSportsImage
Photo Courtesy of DavesSportsImage

(Walnut, CA) The Mt. SAC Beach Volleyball team continued early-season non-conference action, as they hosted Orange Coast College on Friday, March 4 at "Mountie Beach."

The Mounties fell, 5-0, to the Pirates, on a cool morning at the Walnut campus.

Mt. SAC, which is 4-4 overall, fell in four of the five pairs in straight sets to OCC, who is undefeated at 4-0.

"It's a tough loss, especially when you see your girls just give it all they got," Mt. SAC Beach Volleyball coach Danielle Diaz said. "They played with their hearts.

"Playing better teams is what is going to make them better. What they get out of this is lessons of what to do better and how to adjust, that's what's important."

The 1's, with freshmen Riley DeGroot and Allison Whiteman, after a first set 21-11 loss came back with a very competitive second set, losing by two points, 21-19.

After four of the five matches were over, the 3's, with JJ Quarrels and Diana Pelcastre, put on quite a show on court #2 with everyone cheering them on in the close three-set match.

After falling in the opening game, 21-18, they stayed the course and battled to a 23-21 second-set win to even the match.

With both teams yelling support on every point, they lost a close third game, 15-12.

"Losing in the (second) set was the first (OCC No. 3's) have dropped this season," Quarrels said. "Even though it was a loss, it was still a good loss against a really good team.

"This is my first time playing beach volleyball and it's a lot to learn and like finding open spaces where they're not instead of getting the hard kill. It opens my eyes to the game."

Her partner, Diana Pelcastre, who also played on the indoor team last fall said, "Throughout the whole week, we were talking about the game plan. As long as the effort is there, win or lose, we tried our best and at the end of the day, that's what really counts.

"In the first-set loss, we were struggling a little bit with our defense. We adjusted in the second set and the third set. From them being OCC and playing at the beach, it's a good experience."

In the extra match, Jordan Sanchez and her partner Mia Ortiz lost in straight sets, 6-21, 7-21.

Mt. SAC travels to the desert on Friday, March 11 with a pair of non-conference matches against Glendale and host College of the Desert.

Follow Mt. SAC Women's Volleyball on Twitter @MtSAC_BeachVB

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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.