Rodrigo Carbonel / Roundup
Brahmas men’s volleyball team lost their 2011 season home opener to the Orange Coast College Pirates in 5 sets Wednesday.
The game was played in the South Gym where the Brahmas and Pirates engaged in a hard fought battle which was decided in the fifth game.
Pierce came strong out of the gate posting a 7-1 run to try and take charge of the game but OCC fought back and made it a close one.
The Pirates rallied back to win the second and third games of the match not letting the Brahmas reach 20 points in either one.
Pierce bounced back in the fourth with a great performance by center Leo Granato, who injured himself landing badly after going for a block.
“I went up for a block and felt my shin pop when i landed,” said Granato after the game. “We committed too many little mistakes, we need to work in communication and never giving up,” he concluded.
He came back into the game limping but coach Eddie Stanislawski left him in there.
“We played well, the team showed a lot of character in the way we came back, unfortunately we had to deal with an injury,” coach Stanislawski said following the match.
The first set was marked by an incident when OCC’s Chris Pratt flew over the announcer’s table knocking down some electronic devices making an attempt to recuperate a lost ball.
Pratt was not injured during the incident.
“This win is the result of our hard work,” said Pratt. “We’ve been playing down to our opponents, but I’m sure this win woke us up.”
Brahmas men’s volleyball game will meet the Grossmont College Griffins at Santa Monica College Saturday 9:00a.m. for their next match.
Ryan Duncan stuffs a serve from Orange Coast College Feb. 10 2011. at Pierce College Woodland Hills, Calif. Pierce went on to lose the match. (Joseph Kukuczka 2011)
Brett Romero sets up a jump serve against Orange Coast College Feb. 10 2011. at Pierce College Woodland Hills, Calif. Pierce went on to lose the match. (Joseph Kukuczka 2011)