Huntington Beach, CA ‑ The distance between the gyms at Golden West College and Orange Coast College is less than eight miles, but the distance between the Rustlers and Orange Coast in men's volleyball is much closer.

Golden West won the first set in Wednesday's match between the two rivals, but dropped the next three in close fashion in a 3-1 loss in the Rustlers' 2017 Orange Empire Conference opener.

Golden West (7-3), ranked fifth in the state in the most recent California Community College Men's Volleyball Coaches Association State Poll, fell to #2 Orange Coast, 25-14, 15-25, 17-25, 23-25. The loss marked the first time the Rustlers have lost at home in 2017 and gave Golden West its first losing streak – at two games.

Sophomore Kysen Olsen recorded a team-high nine kills with seven digs and sophomore Kyle Taylor had eight kills, six digs and team-high two blocks to pace the Rustlers.

Freshman Sterling Miles (Mater Dei High) and sophomore Arturo Alday each had seven kills. Sophomore Tyler Peck had four kills for Golden West. Freshman Shilo Chow (Foothill High/Nevada) had a team-high 16 assists, freshman Reid Harrison tallied 15 assists and four digs and sophomore Trevor Robinson recorded a team-high nine digs.

 Golden West plays host to top-ranked Irvine Valley College at 6 p.m. on March 22.