Western State Conference co-champion Los Angeles Pierce College and Pacific Coast Athletic Conference co-champ Grossmont College have been named the top seeds for this week's California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Men's Volleyball State Championship tournament. The event is set to take place this Thursday and Saturday, April 18 and 20, at the Long Beach City College Hall of Champions Gym in Long Beach.
Four teams will play state quarterfinal playoff matches this Tuesday (Apr. 16) to earn a chance to face Pierce and Grossmont in the state championship semifinals in Long Beach on Thursday.
Defending state champion Long Beach City College (WSC #2 seed) hosts Orange College (PCAC #3 seed) at 7 p.m. in a rematch of last year's state final and Golden West College (PCAC #2 seed) hosts El Camino College (WSC #3 seed) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. for the right to advance.
Earlier this season in their lone meetings, Long Beach beat Orange Coast at home 3-2 (Feb. 8) and Golden West was a 3-1 winner at home against El Camino (Feb. 8).
The winner of the Long Beach/Orange Coast match will face Grossmont in Thursday's semifinal and the Golden West/El Camino winner will take on Pierce in the other semifinal match. Semifinal match times are TBA. Should LBCC advance to the semifinals, the state tournament host Vikings would play Grossmont at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. If Long Beach does not advance, Grossmont would play Orange Coast at 5 p.m., followed by GWC/ECC vs. Pierce at 7:30 p.m.
About the Los Angeles Pierce College Brahmas (WSC, No. 1 seed)
2013 WSC co-champion Pierce returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. The Brahmas earned the WSC's top-seed thanks to a pair of head-to-head wins over Long Beach this season. It was Pierce's first conference title since 2007. Pierce has won five state titles overall (1992, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003). The Brahmas are led by second-year head coach Lance Walker.
About the Grossmont College Griffins (PCAC, No. 1 seed)
PCAC co-champion Grossmont returns to the postseason for its third straight year. Grossmont takes a 12-6 overall record into the playoffs and captured a share of the conference title with a 10-2 mark. Grossmont and co-champ Golden West split their two matches this season, but the Griffins edged the Rustlers 4-3 in head-to-head sets won to earn the PCAC top seed. The Griffins look to win their first ever state championship this season after reached the state final in 2011. Grossmont was swept by Orange Coast in last year's state semifinals. Grossmont is led by second-year head coach Travis Lee.
About the Long Beach City College Vikings (WSC, No. 2 seed)
WSC co-champion and defending state champ Long Beach enters the state tournament for the eighth straight season and comes in with a state-best 14-3 overall record. The Vikings went 8-2 in conference play to capture their ninth conference title in 10 seasons. Long Beach has won eight state championships overall (1976, 1980, 1982, 1985, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2012). Last season, the Vikings defeated Orange Coast 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 26-24) in the state final. Long Beach is led by second-year head coach Jonathan Charette.
About the Golden West College Rustlers (PCAC, No. 2 seed)
PCAC co-champion Golden West returns to the postseason for the first time since 2009. The Rustlers ended the regular season tied with Grossmont at 10-2 for a share of the conference title and enters the playoffs with a 14-4 overall record. Golden West has won five state championships overall (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999). The Rustlers are led by first-year head coach Kasey Harwell.
About the El Camino College Warriors (WSC, No. 3 seed)
El Camino returns to postseason for its third consecutive season. The Warriors look to win their first-ever state championship after last reaching the state final in 1983. This season, El Camino finished third in the WSC with a 7-3 mark and takes a 10-7 overall record into the playoffs. Last season, El Camino suffered a five-set loss to Grossmont in the state quarterfinals. El Camino is led by ninth-year head coach Richard Blount.
About the Orange Coast College Pirates (PCAC, No. 3 seed)
Orange Coast returns to the state championship tournament for its seventh consecutive season. The Pirates closed the regular-season with a 12-6 overall record and finished third in the PCAC at 8-4. OCC pulled out a five-set win at Irvine Valley College on Friday to secure its playoff spot. Orange Coast has won five state titles (1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994). Last year, OCC lost 3-1 to Long Beach in the state final. Orange Coast is led by seventh-year head coach Travis Turner.
CCCMVCA Hall of Fame
Prior to the state championship final on Saturday, the California Community College Men's Volleyball Coaches Association will induct four members into its Hall of Fame. The 2013 inductees are Beau Daniels (Los Angeles Pierce), Brent Frohoff (El Camino), Randy Stoklos (Santa Monica), and Lance Walker (Los Angeles Pierce). The group will join a list of 17 previously inducted members: 2012 – Ernie Suwara (Santa Monica), Steve Obradovich (El Camino), and Brian Lewis (Orange Coast); 2011 – Mike Bright (El Camino), Duncan McFarland (El Camino), Gary "Jake" Jacobsen (Long Beach) and Bob Wetzel (Orange Coast); 2010 – Butch May (Santa Monica), Gary Sato (Santa Monica), and Fred Featherstone (Grossmont); 2009 – Bob Ctvrtlik (Long Beach), Marv Dunphy (Los Angeles Pierce), Rick Olmstead (Santa Barbara), Pat Powers (Santa Monica), Riley Salmon (Los Angeles Pierce), Ken Stanley (Los Angeles Pierce), and Steve Timmons (Orange Coast).