San Diego, Calif. -- The Santa Monica Corsairs advanced to their second consecutive California Community College Athletic Association Men's Volleyball State Championship match after sweeping Orange Coast, 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-15), in the first semifinal at San Diego City College.
The Corsairs (17-2) were led by Taylor Tattersall and Daniel Vaziri who recorded seven kills apiece. Vaziri also had two solo blocks and two assisted blocks.
There were 15 ties in a hotly contested opening set. The largest lead for either team was two points until Santa Monica scored three in a row on two Orange Coast errors and a kill by Vaziri. SMC went ahead, 19-16, and closed the set on an 8-4 run to win, 25-20.
Santa Monica had a .444 attack percentage in that first set, while Orange Coast hit only .125
The Orange Coast Pirates (16-6), who were led by Adrian Faitalia's match-high 17 kills and six digs, jumped out to an 11-6 lead in the second set and were in a favorable position to even the match when they went ahead 19-15 on Faitalia's kill, but the Corsairs rallied back and finished the set on a 10-2 run to win, 25-21.
Down two sets to none and looking to avenge a 3-1 loss at Santa Monica on February 6, Orge Coast stayed with the Corsairs early in the third set, forcing four ties, but a 12-4 run by the Western State Conference champion Corsairs put them ahead, 16-8.
Orange Coast did not get any closer than six points the rest of the way as Santa Monica completed the sweep with a 25-15 win. The Corsairs hit .444 in the final set, while OCC attacked at a .065 clip.
Orange Coast setter Steven Duhoux tallied a match-high 28 assists despite the Pirates' .087 overall attack percentage.
Santa Monica setter Bryant Lagmay recorded 19 assists.
Orange Coast ends its season with a 16-6 overall record.
The Corsairs improved to a state-best 17-2 record and will look to win their first state championship since 1981 when they face El Camino in the CCCAA title match on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at Harry West Gymnasium on the campus of San Diego City College.