Irvine Valley's men's volleyball team ended the year ranked No. 4 in the final California Community College Men's Volleyball Coaches Association State Poll, which was released this week.
The Lasers ended the year with a record of 16-6 overall, finished second in the Orange Empire Conference and reached the semifinals of the CCCAA State Championship tournament.
LA Pierce, which upset both top-ranked Long Beach and No. 2 Orange Coast to win the state title, finished as the No. 1 team in the rankings.
Pierce started slow and saw its overall record slip to 4-6 after losing at Irvine Valley in four sets on Mar. 7.
But Pierce didn't fall again. The Brahmas' 10-match, season-ending win streak included a 6-0 mark to take the Western State Conference – North Division title. Pierce dropped just five sets over its 10-match streak.
Cole Chea led the way in the title match against Orange Coast, finishing with 21 kills for coach Lance Walker's squad. Maximilian Petuhov added 12 kills and 12 digs and Bernardo Rose had 48 assists in the title triumph.
After making the state final, Orange Coast stayed at No. 2 in the rankings.
The Pirates, who won the Orange Empire Conference, ended the year with a record of 20-3 with their only losses coming to Long Beach City (twice) and Pierce.
Long Beach City dropped from first to third in the final poll after losing in the semifinals to Pierce in three sets. The Vikings won 20 straight matches before falling to the Brahmas.
Irvine Valley was at fourth with Fullerton at No. 5.
Fullerton, which ended the year 11-8 overall, was knocked out of the playoffs by Pierce in the quarterfinals.
The rest of the top 10 included El Camino at sixth, Santa Barbara City at No. 7, Moorpark and Santa Monica tied at eighth and Miramar, which won the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference at No. 10.
CCCMVCA State Top 10
1. LA Pierce (14-6)
2. Orange Coast (20-3)
3. Long Beach City (20-1)
4. Irvine Valley (16-6)
5. Fullerton (11-8)
6. El Camino (10-7)
7. Santa Barbara City (12-6)
8T. Moorpark (8-9)
8T. Santa Monica (8-7)
10. Miramar (11-8)