Irvine Valley's women's volleyball team won its second match in a row and first in Orange Empire Conference play with a four-set victory over Orange Coast on Friday at home.
IVC, ranked 19th in the state and 11th in Southern California, came out on top in the conference opener, 25-18, 25-22, 16-25, 25-13.
"I thought we did some good things," Irvine Valley coach Nate Ngo said. "We came out and played well at the start. I thought we lost our focus a little at the end of the second game and it lingered into the third, but we re-set ourselves and finished strong."
Irvine Valley captured the first set on a kill by freshman outside hitter Taira Ka'awaloa.
The Lasers jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second set on an ace by Ka'awaloa. And then after a kill by Orange Coast's Aubrey St. Laurent, IVC scored four points in a row to go up, 9-2.
Sophomore middle blocker Hailey Riden had a kill and sophomore opposite Juju Cannon recorded two kills in a row.
Later, Irvine Valley went ahead, 12-3 on an ace by Cannon.
But Orange Coast didn't go away. The Pirates won 13 of the next 17 points and tied the score after a kill by Tileree Johnson and then an IVC hitting error.
Orange Coast took a 18-17 lead on another kills by Johnson.
Irvine Valley tied the score at 18 on a kill by freshman right side Diamonique Brogan and then won the next three points in a row, including getting a tip winner by sophomore middle blocker Kayla Shields to take a 20-18 lead.
An OCC hitting error put Irvine Valley ahead, 21-18.
Orange Coast got within 24-22 on a kill by St. Laurent, but Irvine Valley ended the set on a kill by Ka'awaloa.
Orange Coast pulled away midway through the third set to get back into the match.
Up, 16-14, the Pirates won nine of the final 11 points of the set.
A block by Johnson and then an ace by Hannah Del Barto put Orange Coast ahead, 23-16. IVC hit out to make it 24-16 and then Del Barto closed out the set with another ace.
But Irvine Valley bounced back in the fourth set. The Lasers raced to a 15-8 lead.
Orange Coast pulled within 15-10 on back-to-back kills by St. Laurent, but that was as close as the Pirates would get the rest of the way.
Irvine Valley won three straight points on a kill by Cannon, a kill by freshman middle blocker Kylie Miller and a block by Miller and freshman opposite Hannah Holder to make it 18-10.
An ace by Cannon put Irvine Valley ahead, 20-11, and a kill by Ka'awaloa soon after made it 22-12.
Another kill by Ka'awaloa set up match point at 24-13 and Cannon ended the match on the next point with a kill.
Cannon led the way with 17 kills, seven digs and four aces. Ka'awaloa added 13 kills, 10 digs and three aces. Holder contributed 10 kills and five digs and Riden finished with eight kills for IVC.
Blevins had 48 assists and six digs and sophomore libero Taylor Askins chipped in 10 digs.
"Juju did a nice job for us," Ngo said. "She really applied some of the lessons we worked on this week in practice tonight. Taira was solid as usual and I am liking the progress that Alissa is making. She is putting balls in good spots for our hitters."
Irvine Valley improved its record to 3-1 on the season, while Orange Coast fell to 5-6.
The Lasers play again next Wednesday, traveling to Santiago Canyon for a 6 p.m. match. This is Santiago Canyon's first year as a program. And IVC is home again next Friday, hosting Cypress at 6 p.m.
