Nine weeks in a row at the top for women's volleyball team

Nine weeks in a row at the top for women's volleyball team

The Irvine Valley women's volleyball team is the only undefeated squad left in the state and remained at No. 1 in the California Community College Women's Volleyball Coaches Association State Top 25 Poll.

The Lasers won their lone match last week, sweeping Santiago Canyon, 25-8, 25-6, 25-7 to earn a share of the Orange Empire Conference title and move to 16-0 overall.

Freshman middle blocker Lea Kruse led the way for IVC with 13 kills and 11 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Vortouni had nine kills and freshman middle blocker Kristin Austin added eight kills and five blocks. Freshman setter Truth Hafey ran the offense with 37 assists. She also had three aces.

Irvine Valley, which has won 43 straight matches dating back to the start of the 2017 season, can win the conference title outright on Wednesday when it hosts Riverside at 6 p.m.

The Lasers have three matches left in the regular season, hosting Riverside Wednesday and then playing at Orange Coast Friday and at Cypress next Wednesday.

Irvine Valley has been at the top of the state rankings for nine weeks in a row.

Gavilan from Northern California stayed at No. 2 in the rankings with Bakersfield at No. 3, Cabrillo at fourth, El Camino at No. 5, Fresno City at sixth, Sierra at No. 7, Hartnell at eighth, Long Beach City at No. 9 and American River rounding out the top 10.

Two other Orange Empire Conference teams are in the rankings with Cypress at No. 14 and Orange Coast at 20th.