Western State Conference champion Long Beach City College and Pacific Coast Athletic Conference winner Orange Coast College have been named the top seeds for the 2016 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Men's Volleyball State Championship tournament. The event opens this Friday, April 22 and concludes next week. Quarterfinal matches will be played at the home site of the higher seed while state championship semifinals and final matches will be played at Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills.
Four teams will play state championship quarterfinal matches on Friday (Apr. 22) to earn a chance to face Long Beach and Orange Coast in the state championship semifinals next Thursday (Apr. 28). The state final is set for April 30 at 7 p.m.
Defending state champion Santa Monica College (WSC #2 seed) hosts San Diego Mesa College (PCAC #3 seed) at 7 p.m. and Golden West College (PCAC #2 seed) hosts El Camino College (WSC #3 seed) on Friday at 6 p.m. for the right to advance.
Earlier this season in their lone meetings, Santa Monica rolled to a three-set sweep of San Diego Mesa on Feb. 17 while Golden West needed five sets to come away with a 3-2 win at El Camino on Feb. 12.
The winner of Friday's Golden West/El Camino match will face Long Beach in Thursday's 7:30 p.m. semifinal and the Santa Monica/San Diego Mesa winner will take on Orange Coast in the 5 p.m. semifinal in Woodland Hills.
About the Long Beach City College Vikings (WSC, No. 1 seed)
Long Beach enters the state tournament for the 11th straight season and comes in with a 19-2 overall record. Since dropping their first two matches of the season, LBCC has won 19 straight. The Vikings went a perfect 12-0 in conference play to capture their first WSC title since 2013. Long Beach has won eight state championships overall (1976, 1980, 1982, 1985, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2012). Last season, the Vikings lost 3-1 to Orange Coast in the state championship quarterfinals. Long Beach is led by fifth-year head coach Jonathan Charette.
About the Santa Monica College Corsairs (WSC, No. 2 seed)
Defending state champion Santa Monica returns to the postseason for the third consecutive season after winning its first-ever state title in 2015 with a 3-1 win over El Camino. Santa Monica also reached the state final in 2014. SMC finished second in the Western State Conference with a 9-3 record and enters the playoffs with an 11-8 overall mark under first-year head coach Jackson Meticchechia.
About the El Camino College Warriors (WSC, No. 3 seed)
El Camino returns to postseason for its sixth consecutive season. The Warriors look to win their first state championship after last reaching the state final in 1983. This season, El Camino brings a 10-9 overall record into the playoffs after finishing third in the WSC with a 7-5 mark. In 2015, El Camino reached the state championship final but lost 3-1 to Santa Monica. El Camino is led by 12th-year head coach Richard Blount.
About the Orange Coast College Pirates (PCAC, No. 1 seed)
Orange Coast returns to the state tournament for its 10th consecutive season. The Pirates wrapped up a conference championship with a 13-1 PCAC record and are 20-2 overall. The Pirates enter the postseason riding an 11-match winning streak. Orange Coast has won six state titles (1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 2014). Last year, OCC was swept by Santa Monica in the state championship semifinals. Orange Coast is led by 10th-year head coach Travis Turner.
About the Golden West College Rustlers (PCAC, No. 2 seed)
Golden West returns to the postseason for the first time since 2013. The Rustlers finished second in the PCAC, just one match back of OCC, with an 11-2 record and enters the playoffs with a 17-4 overall record. Golden West has won five state championships overall (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999). The Rustlers are led by first-year head coach Paul Munoz.
About the San Diego Mesa College Olympians (PCAC, No. 3 seed)
San Diego Mesa is making its first appearance in the postseason in over 15 years. The Olympians finished in third place in the PCAC with a 9-5 record and are 11-9 heading into the playoffs. San Diego Mesa looks to win its first state championship and is led by head coach Jaime Lopez.