Rustlers Edge Pirates in 5

Two of the top teams in Southern California put on an amazing show for two hours inside the Peterson Gymnasium at Orange Coast College on Wednesday night, but in the end, it was the guests who left happier than the hosts.

The Golden West women's volleyball team showed their true character as they shot down the Pirates in five-games, 20-25, 25-19, 25-20, 18-25, 15-11.

In a balanced attack, the first-place Rustlers (17-3, 12-0) were led by Alicia Utke with 14 kills, Alyssa Hubbard with 11 kills, Bethanee Boggs with 10 kills and Ashley Botana with eight kills. Setter Klaire Blasco dished out 50 assists in the win.

The Pirates jumped out to a 12-7 lead in the opening game and never allowed the Rustlers any long point runs to get back into the game. Riggs (four kills) and Nicholson (three kills) helped close out the opener, putting OCC up early.

But the momentum turned around in Games 2 and 3 as the Rustlers grabbed control of early leads and never lost them. Coast could only muster up four three-point runs in those two games as Golden West grabbed a 2-1 lead in the match. Coast jumped out to a 14-6 lead in the fourth game as it was too much to handle for the Rustlers as the Pirates evened the score up at 2 apiece sending the match to a fifth and deciding game.

Coast opened strong with a block and service winner by Lumsden, putting OCC up 2-0.

But that would be it for the home-side ovations as the Rustlers grabbed control of the 15-point fifth game with a 10-2 run, making it 10-4, Rustlers.

OCC used a modest 7-4 run to get to within three at 14-11, but a Botana kill ended the match and sent the rest of the Rustler players onto the court to celebrate the OEC title.