The Irvine Valley beach volleyball pair of sophomores Tessa Marocco and Kenzie Dews are Irvine Valley's athletes of the week for May 6.
It is the second time this season that the duo has been honored.
Marocco and Dews, who have played as IVC's No. 1 team for all of the spring of 2024, qualified for the 3C2A Championships this Friday and Saturday at West Valley College in Saratoga with a solid showing at the So. Cal. Regionals at El Camino last weekend.
Marocco and Dews, seeded sixth at regionals, defeated a squad from Mt. San Jacinto in three sets in the first round, and then beat the No. 22 team from MiraCosta, 21-16, 21-17, on Friday in the second round to qualify for state.
The duo lost in the quarterfinals in three sets to the third seed from Santa Barbara City, 21-11, 19-23, 15-7, on Saturday. The Santa Barbara City team of Olivia Medina and Ashley Rossi ended up winning the regional title.
Marocco and Dews kept playing on Saturday in the consolation bracket and earned two more victories, including ultimately beating the top-seeded pair of Bridget Dorr and Ryan D'Angelo from El Camino, 28-26, 24-26, 15-6, to claim the fifth seed out of the south into the state event
They helped the Lasers to an undefeated Orange Empire Conference season in April with a 5-0 win over Riverside at home.
Marocco and Dews were also seeded second in the OEC Pairs Championship and made the finals at IVC.
The pair helped Irvine Valley to a record of 15-4 overall and 14-0 in conference and a trip into the So. Cal. Regional Playoffs.
Marocco and Dews had a record of 15-4 during the regular season on the top court for Irvine Valley.
Even more details about the 3C2A Beach Volleyball Championships can be found here