Irvine Valley women's sophomore indoor and beach volleyball player Lucce Fitzgerald is headed to play at the University of Hawaii at Hilo in the fall.
Fitzgerald signed last week.
Fitzgerald, an outside hitter, helped Irvine Valley's indoor team finish with a record of 15-7 overall and 11-5 in conference, which was good for fourth place in the Orange Empire Conference last fall.
The Lasers won four matches in a row, including upsetting Santa Barbara City in the Southern California Regional Playoffs, before falling to El Camino in the playoffs.
Fitzgerald started in every match for the Lasers and ended with 175 kills and a 2.19 kills per set average. She also led the team in digs with 298 for a 3.73 per set average. And Fitzgerald was third on the team with 24 aces.
She had 10 matches with at least 10 kills, including a season-high 15 in Irvine Valley's five-set win at Saddleback.
At the conclusion of the indoor season, Fitzgerald was named second team all-conference.
During the beach season this spring, Fitzgerald was named first team all-conference along with teammate Taira Ka'awaloa.
The duo played No. 1 for the Lasers all season and reached the OEC Championship Final before losing to Riverside's Marissa Vialpando and Lauren Wells in a tough final at the Newland Street Courts in Huntington Beach.
Irvine Valley ended up finishing tied for fourth in the final conference standings with a record of 4-3.
Fitzgerald, who attended San Clemente High and then went to Holy Names University, before coming back to IVC is headed to a Hawaii at Hilo indoor squad that went 10-15 last season.
"I am ecstatic that Lucee is joining us," Hawaii Hilo coach Gene Krieger said on the school's website. "Her ball control skills will be a key asset for us. She will be part of our leadership backbone this season, joining our returnees and junior college transfers to help us improve in a hurry."
Fitzgerald, who will major in Kinesiology, was excited as well.
"I am looking forward to playing in a program that has the support of the campus and community like UH Hilo does," she said. "Their rich tradition and history make it an honor to wear the jersey. I am also excited to continue my education in a beautiful place like the Big Island of Hawai'i."