The Irvine Valley women's volleyball team plays what is probably its most important match of the season so far Friday night.
The Lasers, ranked No. 1 in the state and undefeated on the season, host rival Cypress in a big Orange Empire Conference contest.
Irvine Valley went undefeated, captured the conference title and won a state title last season.
The team that won the OEC title in 2016 was Cypress.
The Lasers moved to 11-0 on the year with a 25-17, 25-22, 25-17 conference win over Orange Coast on Wednesday at home.
IVC has won 38 straight matches has dropped just one set overall this season (33-1 in sets).
OCC played well and Irvine Valley had to battle back in each of the three sets to grab the win.
Sophomore outside hitter Lea Kruse led the way with 13 kills, 10 digs, three blocks and three aces.
Sophomore middle blocker Jacqueline Wolfe and freshman middle blocker Kristin Austin combined for 12 kills, freshman defensive specialist Alaina Gendale had eight digs, sophomore libero Renata Bath added six digs, freshman setter Truth Hafey ran the offense with 33 assists and sophomore defensive specialist Jade Parham went on a big six-point serving run for IVC (two aces) in the final set to help put things away.
IVC sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Vortouni ranks fifth in the conference in kills per set at 3.18 and ranks second in hitting percentage at .364 going into Friday night's match.
Sophomore middle blocier Kylie Miller is third in the OEC in hitting percentage at .350 and Kruse is sixth in the conference in kills per set at 3.04 and fifth in hitting percentage at .300.
Hafey is first in the OEC in assists per set at 11.24 and ranks third in the state.
IVC is tied for second in the state in team hitting percentage at .338.
Cypress has a record of 10-6 overall and 5-2 in conference after sweeping Santa Ana, 25-17, 25-13, 25-17, on the road Wednesday.
The Chargers have won three matches in a row, have swept all three opponents and sit in third place in the conference standings – just a half match behind Orange Coast for second.
In the Cypress win over Santa Ana, Kayla Owens had a team-high 10 kills, hit an impressive .444 and also recorded a team-best 12 digs.
Brittany Zavala added six kills, and Kahmis Berneker, Savannah Johnson and Jane Woodward each added five kills.
Alisha Ormond contributed five aces and Holly Crabajac had 13 assists.
The Chargers are currently ranked No. 23 in the latest CCCWVCA State Poll.
Owens ranks third in the conference in kills per set at 3.54, Woodward is fourth in OEC in hitting percentage at .341 and Johnson paces the conference in blocks per set at 0.94.
