Beach volleyball player Alaina Thomas headed to Oregon

Beach volleyball player Alaina Thomas headed to Oregon

Another Irvine Valley women's volleyball player is headed to a NCAA Division I school.

Sophomore, all-around beach player Alaina Thomas has committed to play at the University of Oregon.

In the spring of 2019, Thomas helped lead IVC beach team to an unblemished Orange Empire Conference record and a third-place finish at the California Community College Athletic Association State Championship in Chula Vista.

The Lasers ended the year ranked No. 3 in the state in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) final poll. The Laser beach squad was named the team of the year as part of the IVC athletic department's 19th Annual Awards.

Irvine Valley finished with a record of 17-8 overall and won a conference title with a mark of 10-0. IVC ended up going 15-1 against community college opponents in 2019.

The Lasers were off to a solid start in the spring of 2020 before the season was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Thomas was playing in the No. 2 or 3 pair position with fellow sophomore Kendall Nolan (University of Portland signee).

Thomas, who attended Mission Viejo High, and the IVC beach team were ranked No. 2 in the AVCA preseason poll this spring and the Lasers looked to be on their way to having another shot at a state run before the season ended.