OCC Leads All-OEC Men's Volleyball Accolades

After running away with the Orange Empire Conference title and also cruising to a California Community College Athletic Association State Championship it was no surprise that the Orange Coast men's volleyball team dominated the OEC end-of-the-year awards.

Will Anderson, a 6-8 sophomore opposite was named the most valuable player of the conference, seven of his teammates were picked to the first and second teams and coach Travis Turner was selected as the coach of the year.

Setter Josh Friedman, middle blocker Zach Weston and setter Grayson Kling were each first team all-conference selections from Orange Coast and outside hitter Sam Warren, middle blocker Jake Diddy, outside hitter Cash Adamsen and libero Tyler Vedder were named to the second team.

The Pirates went 8-0 in conference and had a record of 20-1 overall.

They won their last 15 matches of the season and their last 15 sets of the year.

Orange Coast swept Irvine Valley and then Long Beach, which handed OCC its only loss of the year in mid-February, to win the state title at El Camino College in late April.

The Pirates finished the year with the highest winning percentage (.952) in the CCCAA. And they were the only 20-win team in the state.

Anderson was also picked the MVP of the state tournament with teammates Adamsen and Friedman selected to the all-tournament team at the state event.

Anderson led the conference in kills with 250, in hitting percentage at .360 and in aces per set at 0.61, and was second in kills per set at 3.79.

Friedman was tops in the OEC in assists per set at 7.92, Adamsen ranked second in hitting percentage at .329 and Weston was fourth in blocks per set at 0.89.

Irvine Valley, which finished second in the conference and made the state semifinals, also had three players named to both the first and second teams. They included libero Adam Schulte, middle blocker Trevor Weinert and middle blocker Josh Beymer on the first team and outside hitter Karl Stenlund, outside hitter Colin Chillingworth and opposite Jaden Churchill on the second team.

Schulte, who was a state all-tournament selection, led the conference in total digs with 201 and was second in digs per set at 2.79.

Beymer paced the conference in blocks per set at 1.34 with teammate Weinert second at 1.00. Stenlund was fourth in the conference in hitting percentage at .280.

Other members of the first team in the OEC were Santiago Canyon 6-9 opposite Cameron Grammatica, Santiago Canyon outside hitter Connor Wilson and Fullerton outside hitter Leonardo Mazuco.

Grammatica led the conference in kills per set at 4.26 and was fourth in total kills with 196, while Mazuco ranked tied for second in total kills with 203 and was fourth in kills per set at 3.17.

The full OEC all-conference men's volleyball teams can be seen below.

Orange Empire Conference Men's Volleyball

2022 All-Orange Empire Conference 

Most Valuable Player – Will Anderson, Orange Coast

Coach of the Year – Travis Turner, Orange Coast

Release by Brent Shaver, Irvine Valley SID