I stepped into OCC men's head volleyball coach Travis Turner's office for a short interview about the season.

I also met sophomore setter Doug Astor in there.

I caught them in a good time since they were both talking about the season and where Astor hopes to go to college next semester (USC or Loyola Marymount University).

First question was in regards to what happened against Golden West College in the state's semi-finals.

"We missed a ton of serves and they dug a bunch of balls - they just out dug us," Turner (left) said. "But we played well and ended the thing well."

Next question was about what's next for the program and he said they will be back in the gym on Monday (May 4) to practice and hopefully get the sophomores ready to play next fall for wherever they're going.

Turner said sophomore Mike Stewart visited Ohio State University this week and believes he'll sign there and sophomore Rick Schroeder is going to UC Santa Cruz.

Far as next season: "I think we're going to be really good next year - I think everyone is going to be good next year," Turner said. "With so many few opportunities in Division-I, so many kids are going to JCs. I think we're going to have 40 kids the first day."

I also asked Astor (right) about the season and the overall experience.

"Coast was just a good growing experience outside the volleyball court and inside," Astor said. "Just little things, dealing with life, dealing with people on the court, knowing how to talk to certain people on the court, how to get them to perform to their abilities."

Far as how practices went: "Travis was known for creating chaos in the gym to prepare us - that's the way the playoffs went," Astor said.

Both seemed to be a bit shocked that the season is over but finishing third in state and making the semi-finals for three straight years is nothing to be ashamed of.

Here's the link to see OCC's Riki Yano's interview after the swim meet - http://www.floswimming.org/videos/coverage/view_video/234947-california-community-college-state-championships/174239-riki-yano-orange-coast

To read my article on Yano published in this week's Coast Report, click here.

Men's and women's track and field team finished second to Riverside Community College at the Orange Empire Conference Track and Field Championships over the weekend.

When I talked to head coach John Knox on Monday, he said Donovan Toban (left) had 24.5 points for the men and Cassie Mitchell (right) picked up 40 for the women. [Click here to read about all the results at the OEC Track and Field Championships]

They were also the only two OCC athletes to finish first in any events. Obviously, these two needed to be interviewed so I got right on that.

Toban said he was just trying to get some points for the team and his goal is to make it to state. He added that it's been a great season and all the players are like a family now.

Sweet. Short. Beautiful.

Mitchell also said she was trying to get the points for the team and did what she had to do.

One thing I took away from the interview was how confident she was in her abilities - something I believe great athletes have.

"I've been checking the list online to see my competition. I don't want to keep anyone out but at the same time I think it's not going to be as much of a challenge," Mitchell said. "I will have girls that'll pull me but in the end I think I'm going to come out on top."

Some say arrogance and cockiness, Mitchell and I say confidence.

"That's the one thing I've gained from coming (to OCC) is a little more confidence in myself," she said. "At first, I was like, 'Oh whatever happens, happens' but I'm kind of going into my races with, 'I can do this, I can win this, try not to worry, try not to worry about them and have fun with it.'"

But she added she's not celebrating just yet. She said she'll be excited about all her accomplishments after the season is completely over.

Focused. Confident. Determined.

I love it.

Good luck to all the track and field athletes going to the 2009 Southern California Championships at Mt. San Antonio College Saturday at 9 a.m.

[Photos by Tony Lee]

Head coach Travis Turner told me anything can happen if they get to the final four but they had to beat Moorpark College to get there.

Earlier this year, the Pirates lost in straight sets to Moorpark but on April 21, Coast won in a hard-fought five-set game.

Turner said both teams are similar and he seemed confident that his players matched up well against Moorpark. All year long, he's said it's not the talent the team lacks, it's how they play once they're on the court.

In a press release by OCC Sports Information Director Tony Altobelli, Turner said, "It was by far, our best effort as a group of the season. Most of the year, we'd win a few points, lose a few points and get totally flustered. (On Tuesday), we'd lose a few points, but we did a much better job of shrugging it off and playing through the adversity."

The Pirates took the court on April 23 at the CCCAA Men's Volleyball State Championships to play against conference and school rivals the Golden West College Rustlers.

In its prior two meetings, the Pirates lost both games - one at home after starting off a set 5-0.

Altobelli wrote a great summary of the game so I won't say anything more about it. [Click here to read about the GWC vs. OCC matchup in the final four]

I want to give a shoutout to Turner for coaching another successful season and a thanks for allowing me to cover the team. Going to the third-straight final four is ridiculously impressive at a Community College program - it shows the strength of the coaches.

I want to give a shoutout to sophomore player Jake Melone. He's been leading the Pirates all year long, Turner has said nothing but good things about his character and one of the nicest guys I've met this year. I wish both of them nothing but good luck.

Also, the Coast Report got an e-mail from a "Mike Stewart" that said why the paper didn't cover the men's volleyball in the final four. There's also a Mike Stewart on the team also. I don't know if it's the same two but if it is, I want to say I didn't forget about you guys.

[Photo courtesy of Orange Coast College]

The women's tennis featured its No. 1 and No. 2 players Brittany Bass and Melissa Boyer at the Ojai Invitational over the weekend and they made it to the semi-finals as a doubles tandem.

Bass (front row, far right) and Boyer (back row, far left) lost to No. 2 seeded Jacque Rouquet and Marina Sales of College of the Desert 6-1, 6-4.

Boyer, as a singles player, was knocked out in the round of 32 to a Grossmont College player and Bass was knocked out in the round of 16 to a Cerritos College player.

As the only two lady Pirates to play in the SoCal Regionals on Thursday, Bass and Boyer will try to meet each other in the finals at Cypress College. [Click here to read about how they got to the SoCal Regionals] [Click here to read the article on men's and women's postseason]

Good luck ladies.

[Photo courtesy of Orange Coast College]

The men's and women's tennis played in the Ojai Invitational over the weekend and played well against the competition.

As stated in last week's Coast Report issue, this invitational No. 1 and No. 2 singles/doubles players from all across California. [Click here to read the article on men's and women's postseason]

You can read about the men's results on the OCC athletics website - I had the same information to but stats can get oh-so-boring sometimes. [Click here to check out the stats and summary]

I talked to head men's coach Chris Ketcham Monday and he stressed his focus for the SoCal Regionals on Thursday: the health of his players.

Ketcham has told me this six weeks before when I covered the team's exhibition match against Glendale Community College of Arizona. Health and conditioning is one of the reasons why the men's tennis team has been successful this season.

Minguez, last week's Pirate of the Week, practices with the football team Monday and Wednesday normally but Ketcham told him not to practice on Wednesday this week. Ketcham told me Minguez is a "warrior" and applauds his effort everyday.

Good luck to all three doubles teams and Minguez and Fisher at the SoCal Regionals Thursday.

[Photo courtesy of Orange Coast College]

I'd never thought this would happen but it finally did.

The OCC Sports blog had over 1,000 visitors in the past 40 days or so.

Why no exclamation points or caps? Because the Associated Press journalism style doesn't allow me to.

Thank you everyone for visiting this site.

The OCC track and field team got off to a good start over the weekend for the Orange Empire Conference Championships.

Women team rankings (after six events)
1) Orange Coast College - 102
2) Riverside Community College - 87
3) Golden West College - 20

Men's team rankings (after six events)
1) Riverside Community College - 92
2) Orange Coast College -55
3) Saddleback College - 40

Coast's Cassie Mitchell won the 10,000 meter run with a time of 38:42.86 followed by three teammates Kristen Simek (38:43.42), Margaret McDuffee (39:19.40) and Hilary Labelle (39.56.11). [Click here to read about Mitchell who is ranked No. 1 in the US in the 3,000-meter steeplechase]

Coast's Audrey Crouse, this week's Pirate of the Week, won the women's pole vault clearing 11 feet, 6 inches. This tied a school and OEC record. [Click here to read her Q & A session from earlier this year] [Click here to read her Pirate of the Week]

In the women's javelin, OCC finished behind Riverside standout Karee Nordby's 38.53 meters throw. Lady Pirates Danielle Morton (second, 36.07 meters), Liana Fuentes (third, 33.84 meters) and Bri Vanderwal (fourth, 33.22 meters) followed Nordby. [Click here to read about Fuentes and Vanderwal qualifying for state as heptathletes]

Coast's Russell Westphal finished second in the men's 10,000 meter run (33:06.46) by four seconds to Mat Van Dyke of Saddleback.

OCC's Regan Grego also finished second in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (10:12.35).

Eric Grunbaum, former Pirate of the Week, won the men's shot put with a 15.37 meter launch.

In the men's javelin, Coast finished behind Saddleback's Ray Lian's 59.19 meter throw. Stephen Ruby (58.66 meters) and Brian Norton (50.36 meters) got second and third.

Good luck on Friday at the OEC Championships.

The Orange Coast College swim team not only performed well at the Orange Empire Conference Championships but came back with awards.

I will post what head coach Anthony Iacopetti sent back to me via e-mail.

Hello Tony,

Here are our conference champs results.

Danielle Lavery was the female swimmer of the meet.
Chris Salgado was the male diver of the year.
Mishka Hulka and Jamie Pearce were Co-Diver of the year.

I was Women's Coach of the year.

We have state this weekend at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach. Finals are
Thursday and Friday at 5 pm and Saturday at 4 pm.

Congratulations to everyone on that e-mail.

Women's point total
1) Orange Coast College - 968.5
2) Riverside Community College - 578.0
3) Saddleback College - 493.0

Men's point total
1) Orange Coast College - 905.0
2) Golden West College - 564.0
3) Saddleback College - 476.0

[Click here to see individual times of Coast swimmers]

Good luck at the 2009 State Swimming Championships.

The men's tennis team missed the playoffs by a narrow margin but is doing well as individuals.

OCC is ranked No. 9 and only eight teams make it onto the postseason play as a team.

When I talked to Chris Ketcham, head coach of the men's squad, he seemed disappointed the team didn't have the opportunity for the championship. He even hinted that if the men made it, the team would've had a good shot to do well in the playoffs.

But that doesn't mean the season is over for Ketcham's crew. The Pirates can still win playing as an individual or as a doubles pair.

Over the weekend, Coast's No. 1 and No. 2 singles players Laurent Minguez and Brad Fisher qualified for the next round.

Minguez won his two matches 6-2, 6-3 and 6-0, 6-0. Fisher went 6-3, 6-1 and 6-4, 6-1.

The most impressive feat is all three of the OCC doubles tandems qualified for the next round.

Ketcham said because of the seeding, Coast's No. 1 and No. 2 doubles teams only had to play one match each.

The No. 1 doubles pair of Miguez and Felix Demiro came through with a 6-0, 6-3 win and the No. 2 doubles team of Fisher and Yannik Lepage won in three sets, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.

Coast's No. 3 team of Brian Nguyen and Kevin Saenz had to play two teams and won both - including the No. 1 doubles team of Saddleback College.

In the frst match, Nguyen/Saenz won easily 6-4, 6-0 and then pulled of the upset with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory.

Minguez is also this week's Pirate of the Week. [Click here to read about him]

Congratulations guys. It's great to see players rising up to new levels during the postseason.

It's been one month for the OCC Sports blog today. Technically, it's been one month for the OCC Sports blog's counter but semantics-schmantics.

The blog's had close to 900 viewers in its first month and I couldn't be more thrilled.

I want to thank everyone for taking their time to look at this blog. I put my heart and soul into covering all things OCC sports and it makes me work harder knowing close to a 1,000 people looked at this blog.

So once again, thank you. Also, please send suggestions to coastreportsports@gmail.com I'm always trying to improve this blog and viewer feedback is the best.

Saturday was a busy day for yours truly and OCC sports.

I started off the day covering the Collins Cup for the men's and women's crew teams. Coast got the victory by one point over UC San Diego. [Click here to read a team/program feature about our crew program]



I then moved onto the baseball game between OCC and Fullerton College to cover the pregame ceremony of honoring the 1948-49 baseball team - the first team to win a state title for OCC - and found out the Pirates might have to finish the season without head coach John Altobelli.



The baseball team is ranked No. 1 in the state. It would be a huge blow not to have Altobelli in the dugout.

I also met with head men's tennis coach Chris Ketcham (far right, second row) on the OCC track. He said only eight teams made the regional playoffs and OCC was ranked as a solid nine. He pleaded to the playoff seating board, so to speak, why his team should be in the playoffs but it didn't work out.



He seemed bummed by the result but he said his top two singles player, Laurent Minguez (next to Ketcham) and Brad Fisher (first row, second from the left), and all three of his doubles teams moved onto the quarterfinals.

He seemed proud of his players and how making the postseason as individuals shows depth on his team.

Finally, I chatted with track and field player Danielle Morton.



She said she didn't do that well in the long jump on Friday's Orange Empire Conference Prelims (she just said long - i'm assuming it means long jump) but finished second in the javelin. By finishing second, she moves onto the state track meet.

Morton added Audrey Crouse, future Coast Report staff writer, won the women's pole vault. Congratulations to both. [Click here to read a Q & A session with Crouse]

[Tennis photo - courtesy of Orange Coast College]
[All others - photo by Tony Lee]