Five Pirates awarded all-conference honors

Sophomore Emily Lyon as well as freshmen Briana Fields and Amanda Cheseborough, who helped lead Orange Coast College to a fourth-place finish in the state tournament, have been named first-team All-Orange Empire Conference in women’s volleyball.

Lyon, a setter, had 952 assists for OCC, which finished 22-6 after a third-place showing in conference. Bound for Hope International University, an NAIA school in Fullerton, Lyon was a second-team all-conference pick as a freshman.

Fields, a 5-foot-11 middle blocker, led the Pirates with 278 kills and recorded an impressive .413 hitting percentage. She had 24 aces, 94 digs and 66 total blocks.

Cheseborough, a 5-6 libero, led OCC with 342 digs.

Rachel Freeno, a 5-9 outside hitter, and 6-0 sophomore middle blocker Christian Richards, were named to the second team.

Freeno had 250 kills, second most on the team, while Richards, who will join Lyon at Hope International, had 123 kills with a .301 hitting percentage.

OCC freshman Karlee Skalla, who finished with 168 kills, 49 total blocks and 77 digs, received honorable mention.

Irvine Valley sophomore outsdie hitter Marilena Guadagnini was named Most Valuable Player, while Eddie Rapp from Fullerton College was Coach of the Year.

— From staff reports