Women's volleyball team sweeps Canyons to move to 2-0

Courtesy of On My Game Photography
Courtesy of On My Game Photography

Irvine Valley's women's volleyball team jumped out to quick leads in each and every set and swept College of the Canyons in an impressive performance in the squad's home opener on Friday night.

Irvine Valley improved its record to 2-0 overall with a 25-13, 25-20, 25-19 win over Canyons. The Cougars dropped to 1-1 overall.

The match featured two teams that made the postseason last year and combined for 39 victories.

But Irvine Valley, which made a run to the state championships last season, was the better team on Friday night.

The Lasers broke open the first set with a 4-0 run to take a 11-5 lead. During the run, sophomore outside hitters Gabriela Griego and Lea Kruse each had kills and freshman defensive specialist Lexie Pereira had two aces.

Canyons closed within 13-11 on an Irvine Valley hitting error, but the Lasers bounced right back, going on a 8-0 run and out-scoring Canyons, 12-2, to end the set.

Kruse had six kills, sophomore middle blocker Alma Entesari added two kills and sophomore libero Anna Unke contributed an ace.

Irvine Valley closed out the set with a kill by Kruse, who was a co-most valuable player in the Orange Empire Conference last season.

Irvine Valley raced out to a 10-4 lead in the second set. Canyons got within 13-12 on a kill by returning All-American Grace Ferguson.

The set was tight from there on out. A kill by Kyra Titner pulled Canyons to 23-20.

But Irvine Valley scored the final two points to take it.

Sophomore outside hitter Alaina Gendale finished the set with back-to-back kills, including one on an overpass to end the set.

Canyons scored the first point of the third set, but it was mostly Lasers after that.

Irvine Valley took a 5-3 lead on a kill by Entesari. The set was tied at 7 and 8 before Irvine Valley tooki the lead for good.

A kill by Griego put IVC ahead, 12-9, and a kill by Kruse gave the Lasers a 16-12 advantage.

An ace by sophomore setter Truth Hafey put Irvine Valley up, 19-14.

Sophomore middle blocker Kristin Austin hit a kill on an overpass to make it 23-18, and then Austin added another kill to get Irvine Valley to match point.

Entesari wrapped up the match with a kill on a slide on the next play.

Kruse finished with 15 kills, 10 digs and two aces. Griego added nine kills, Gendale had eight kills and 12 digs, Entesari chipped in seven kills and two blocks and Austin had five kills for the Lasers.

Unke was all over the court with 11 digs and two aces and Hafey ran the offense with 41 assists. She added six digs.

Irvine Valley plays again next Wednesday at home, taking on Chaffey at 5 p.m.