There is a week to go in the regular season. And the Irvine Valley men's volleyball team is back in the mix for a top four spot as the playoffs approach.
The Lasers went from fourth back to third in this week's installment of the 2018 California Community College Men's Volleyball Coaches Association State Poll after winning two matches last week.
Irvine Valley and El Camino flip-flopped again this week. Irvine Valley (14-4, 4-2) moved from fourth to third and El Camino (9-5, 2-2) dropped from third to fourth.
IVC swept Santiago Canyon, 25-14, 25-19, 25-15 at home on Wednesday and then won a big match at Golden West on Friday.
The Lasers got standout sophomore middle blocker Matt August back in the lineup last Friday and rallied to beat Golden West, 25-16, 21-25, 24-26, 25-11, 15-11, on the road. Sophomore outside hitter Patrick Furlong had 17 kills, freshman outside hitter Sean Carroll and August each finished with 14 kills and sophomore setter Austin McBain had 57 assists in the win for Irvine Valley.
Long Beach City is still the dominant team in the state. For the 11th straight week, the Vikings were at the top of the 2018 California Community College Men's Volleyball Coaches Association State Poll.
Long Beach City earned first place votes from all coaches once again.
The Vikings, who have a record of 17-0 overall, moved to 4-0 and clinched at least a share of the Western State Conference – South Division title with a sweep of LA Trade Tech last Friday. Marques Buggs had 14 kills, Robert Oliver added 13 kills and Melbe Perez had 42 assists in the victory for LBCC. Long Beach City ends the regular season with two tough matches, playing at Santa Monica on Wednesday and then hosting El Camino on Friday. Santa Monica took a set off of LBCC the first time the two teams met and El Camino pushed Long Beach City to five before the Vikings came out on top.
But there were some changes among the Top 10 in other spots this week.
Long Beach City has been on top, but Orange Coast (16-2, 6-0) has been No. 2 for just about as long in the state poll. The Pirates have won 11 straight matches. The Pirates defeated Fullerton in five sets for the second time this season last Friday, winning, 25-10, 23-25, 23-25, 25-16, 15-5, at home. OCC has all but wrapped up the Orange Empire Conference title. The Pirates have a big match at Irvine Valley on Wednesday and then play host to Santiago Canyon on Friday.
Irvine Valley is at No. 3
And then El Camino, at the fourth position, lost in three sets at Santa Monica last Friday, 25-22, 25-18, 25-21. The Warriors hit just .222 in the match. El Camino will try and bounce back this week as it finishes the regular season with a home match against Trade Tech on Wednesday and then a big conference match for seeding on Friday at Long Beach City.
Fullerton (11-6, 5-2) moved up another spot this week and now sits at fifth. The Hornets are tied for second in the Orange Empire Conference with Irvine Valley and Fullerton hosts the Lasers on Friday in its lone match of the week. Fullerton won in five at IVC two weeks ago.
Pierce moved up from seventh to sixth in this week's poll and still leads the Western State Conference – North Division at 4-0. Santa Barbara City is at seventh with Santa Monica eighth, Moorpark ninth and San Diego Miramar at 10th. Miramar has clinched the title in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference and has won nine matches in a row.
CCCMVCA State Top 10
1. Long Beach City (17-0, 4-0)
2. Orange Coast (16-2, 6-0)
3. Irvine Valley (14-4, 4-2)
4. El Camino (9-5, 2-2)
5. Fullerton (11-6, 5-2)
6. LA Pierce (9-6, 4-0)
7. Santa Barbara City (11-4, 3-1)
8. Santa Monica (7-6, 1-2)
9. Moorpark (7-8, 1-3)
10. Miramar (10-7, 5-0)
Others receiving votes: Golden West