Despite a scare last Friday night, the Irvine Valley women's volleyball team is still at the top of the California Community College Women's Volleyball Coaches Association State Top 25 Poll this week.
Irvine Valley swept Orange Coast last Wednesday at home and then rallied to beat Cypress in five sets on Friday at home.
The Lasers improved their record to 12-0 overall and 8-0 in the Orange Empire Conference.
IVC has also won 39 matches in a row since the start of the 2017 season.
Irvine Valley has dropped just three sets this year.
The Lasers beat Orange Coast, 25-17, 25-22, 25-17, last Wednesday and then defeated Cypress, 24-26, 21-25, 25-23, 25-13, 15-11, on Friday.
Freshman outside hitter Lea Kruse led Irvine Valley with 18 kills and also had nine digs and five aces in Friday's dramatic victory.
Sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Vortouni added 16 kills and three blocks on the night.
Sophomore middle blocker Kylie Miller contributed eight kills and five blocks and freshman middle blocker Kristin Austin had six kills and two blocks.
Sophomore libero Renata Bath finished with 13 digs, freshman outside hitter Alaina Gendale had 12 digs and freshman setter Truth Hafey came through with a season-best 56 assists, recorded 12 digs and ended with three aces.
Sophomore specialist Jade Parham contributed five aces for IVC.
This is the sixth straight week that the Lasers are No. 1 in the state poll.
Irvine Valley starts the second round of conference action on Wednesday at Saddleback with a match at 6 p.m.
Gavilan leads the state in victories with now 20 to stay at No. 2 and ranks as the top team in Northern California. Gavilan is followed by Bakersfield at No. 3, Cabrillo at No. 4 and El Camino at No. 5.
Long Beach moved up to No. 6, Hartnell went up to No. 7.
American River jumped on to the top 10 at No. 8 and was followed by Fresno City at No. 9 and Moorpark at No. 10.
Other OEC colleges in the poll include Cypress at No. 18, Orange Coast at No. 21 and Fullerton at No. 25.
