In leading up to the official start of the 2022-23 athletics campaign at Irvine Valley, which starts on Aug. 26 with the IVC women's soccer team playing at Southwestern at 5 p.m. and the Laser women's volleyball team hosting Canyons at 5 p.m., the Irvine Valley athletic department will count down the top 10 sports stories from the 2021-22 school year.
The No. 10 story on the list for 2021-22 is the solid season that the Irvine Valley women's volleyball team had. The Lasers finished with a record of 16-6 overall and reached the California Community College Athletic Association Southern California Regional Playoffs. The squad also finished second in the Orange Empire Conference with a record of 12-4 overall. IVC freshman outside hitter Jayli Nealy was named an AVCA player of the week and four players from the IVC team signed to continue their athletic and academic careers at four-year schools.
The Irvine Valley women's volleyball team, under head coach Ryan Windisch, finished the 2021 fall season with a record of 16-6 overall, took second in the Orange Empire Conference and reached the California Community College Athletic Association Southern California Regional Playoffs.
The Lasers had several big accomplishments during the season, including having four players sign with four-year schools.
Outside hitter and setter Jaclyn Sanchez is headed to set at NCAA Division I University of Nevada, outside hitter Emily Guenter will be playing beach at NCAA Division I University of North Florida, outside hitter Tasha Mae is also playing beach at NCAA Division I Cal State Northridge and libero Alexandra Pestolis will be off to NCAA Division II LIU Brooklyn.
Irvine Valley also had two players named first team all-Orange Empire Conference and two more players selected to the second team.
Outside hitter Jayli Nealy and setter Madeline Harkey were each named to the first team and Sanchez and Pestolis were picked second team.
Nealy led the conference in kills per set at 3.64 and in overall kills with 284. She also ranked fourth in hitting percentage at .298 and blocks at 0.94.
Harkey was second in the conference in assists per set at 9.68.
Irvine Valley opens the 2022 fall season with a scrimmage on Wednesday at 1 p.m. against Pasadena City College.
The Lasers will participate in the Cerritos College scrimmage tournamnet on Friday.
And IVC officially opens its season with a home match on Friday, Aug. 26 against Canyons at 5 p.m.