Scholar Athlete luncheon photo gallery
Sophomore women's indoor and beach volleyball player Renata Bath and sophomore men's soccer player Grant Joyce were honored by the Exchange Club of Irvine at a luncheon Tuesday afternoon for being Irvine Valley's scholar athletes of the year.
Award winners epitomize achievement in competition and in the classroom, and demonstrate that excellence is possible in all arenas through their dedication and work ethic.
Bath definitely made her mark for the Irvine Valley women's indoor volleyball and women's beach volleyball programs – both on and off the court.
Most recently, Bath reached the California Community College Athletic Association State Championship semifinals in the pairs event with teammate Lea Kruse and helped her IVC squad finish third in the state championship team event.
Bath, who played the libero position for IVC indoors, was named co-Most Valuable Player of the Orange Empire Conference in the fall of 2018 after helping her team win a second OEC title in a row and make another trip to the state tournament.
She was also picked All-State by the California Community College Women's Volleyball Coaches Association and second team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association in the fall of 2018.
Bath helped lead the Irvine Valley women's indoor team to a state championship and undefeated season in 2017.
The sophomore libero played a big part in IVC finishing with a 21-2 overall record indoors last fall.
Bath made things easier for the Lasers all season long with her ball control.
She had a team-leading 293 digs and is averaging 3.91 digs per set.
Bath ranked fifth in the Orange Empire Conference in digs per set at 3.58 during the regular season.
She had 10 digs or more in 18 matches, including Irvine Valley's final nine contests. She recorded 22 and then 21 digs, respectively in IVC's two matches at the state tournament in Solano.
Bath helped Irvine Valley win four conference titles (two with the indoor squad and two with the beach team) and also made the state tournament in beach volleyball both years.
She finished third with partner Lea Kruse at last weekend's CCCAA State Pairs Championship in Chula Vista.
Bath, originally from Brazil and out of Ja Jolla High, has signed to play at UC Riverside next fall. She has been a scholar athlete every semester at Irvine Valley and is planning on studying in pre-med.
Joyce made quite an impact in his two seasons with the Irvine Valley men's soccer team.
Joyce helped Irvine Valley to the California Community College Athletic Association playoffs in two straight seasons and was one of the best offensive players in the Orange Empire Conference this past year.
He helped IVC to a combined 20-15-8 overall record and 14-8-6 in conference over the last two years, including a 12-5-5 mark overall for the squad in 2017.
This past fall, Joyce had a standout season, leading the Lasers in goals, assists and points. He finished with 10 goals and nine assists for 29 points.
He ended up fourth in the conference in goals, second in assists and second in points.
Joyce had a three-goal and one-assist match in a 7-0 Irvine Valley win at Cypress on Sept. 25.
He also recorded two goals and two assists in Irvine Valley's 8-1 victory over Cypress at home on Oct. 26. And Joyce also notched a goal and an assist in Irvine Valley contests against Norco and Pasadena City.
He had three goals and one assist in his freshman year in 2017 at IVC and finished with 13 goals, 10 assists and 36 points in his two years at Irvine Valley.
Off the field, he was a scholar athlete for the Lasers every semester and a team leader. Joyce was also named a scholar athlete by the California Community Colleges Soccer Coaches Association for 2018.
Joyce, who came to IVC from Corona del Mar High, is planning on attending Cal State Fullerton, continuing his soccer career and studying in business accounting.