Max Petuhov hugs a teammate after their title win against Orange Coast College during the state championship game on April 28, 2018 at Fullerton College in Fullerton, Calif. Photo by Randi Love
Farzad Rahmin, Morgan Wadlow and Blake Omartian rush Bernardo Roese after he assists in the winning kill against Orange Coast College during the state championship game on April 28, 2018 at Fullerton College in Fullerton, Calif. Photo by Randi Love
Bernardo Roese and Teddy Niemira hug after their win against Orange Coast College during the state championship game on April 28, 2018 at Fullerton College in Fullerton, Calif. Photo by Randi Love
Blake Omartian hoists the 2018 state title championship trophy above his head after their game against Orange Coast College on April 28, 2018 at Fullerton College, in Fullerton, Calif. Photo by Randi Love
Bernardo Roese and Morgan Wadlow hug after their win against Orange Coast College during the state championship game on April 28, 2018 at Fullerton College in Fullerton, Calif. Photo by Randi Love
Men’s volleyball players celebrate after their win against Orange Coast College during the state championship game on April 28, 2018 at Fullerton College in Fullerton, Calif. Photo by Randi Love
Cole Chea, Bernardo Roese and Lance Walker hug after their win against Orange Coast College during the state championship game on April 28, 2018 at Fullerton College in Fullerton, Calif. Photo by Randi Love
Cole Chea laughs after his teammate dog piled on top of him at the conclusion of the game against Orange Coast College during the state championship game on April 28, 2018 at Fullerton College in Fullerton, Calif. Photo by Randi Love
Champions.
1986, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and now 2018.
The Brahmas returned from the CCCAA Men’s Volleyball State Championship with new hardware, memories, and their eighth state title.
Their road to the championship was not an easy one, facing the top two teams in the state.
First, they faced the undefeated No. 1 Long Beach City College Vikings in the semifinals, defeating them in straight sets (25-12, 25-20, 25-19) on Thursday, April 26.
In the finals, the Pirates from Orange Coast College, the No. 2 team in the state, stood in the way of the Brahmas. The match was a competitive, back-and-forth four set affair (25-22, 17-25, 31-29, 25-21).
The Brahmas had faced the Vikings and Pirates three times during the regular season, twice against Long Beach, losing in straight sets in all three matches.
The title is the eighth in the history of the men’s volleyball program, and the first since 2003. The most recent state title for Pierce was women’s volleyball in 2012.
Both of those titles came at the end of multiple championship runs. The men in 2003 capped off four in a row, while the women completed a three-peat.
