Irvine Valley's 2019-20 Annual Athletic Awards continues with the team of the year.
And that is the outstanding IVC women's volleyball squad. The 2019 Lasers had another special season for the program under coach Tom Pestolesi.
Irvine Valley had a record of 27-1 and didn't lose its first match of the 2019 campaign until the California Community College Athletic Association State Championship final.
The Lasers were so close to that perfect season.
Irvine Valley battled to a fifth set with Feather River in the championship match, but it wasn't enough, falling, 23-25, 25-20, 25-20, 26-28, 15-11, last fall in Chula Vista.
Feather River captured its first state title.
Irvine Valley still won its third Orange Empire Conference title in a row and had honors, accolades and fun throughout the year. The squad represented Irvine Valley at the highest level.
The Lasers lost in the title match despite 15 kills by sophomore outside hitter Gabriela Griego, 14 kills plus 23 digs and four aces by sophomore outside hitter Lea Kruse, 12 kills by sophomore middle blocker Kristin Austin, eight kills and 20 digs by sophomore outside hitter Alaina Gendale, and 18 digs from sophomore libero Anna Unke.
Each of the Lasers' last two losses occurred at the 2018 and 2019 state tournaments.
Irvine Valley was 75-4 in sets going into the tourney against all opponents from Southern California, then stumbled a bit, going five sets against all three of their North Region state tourney opponents in North #4 American River (won in five in the quarterfinals), #2 Fresno City (rallied to win in five in semifinals), and #1 Feather River.
IVC eliminated the 2018 state champ in American River and the 2016 champion in Fresno. But then it was Feather River taking out the 2017 champ Lasers.
Irvine Valley's Austin said, "We went all year, winning matches in three, and then we have all these 5-set matches here. It was crazy. Feather River was a lot of fun to play against, and they were just a little better than us at the end. I think we were seeing different things with the North teams that we hadn't faced vs. the South ones."
Several Lasers earned honors, including Pestolesi.
Pestolesi was picked as the So. Cal. Region Coach of the Year. It was the second time in three years that he earned the honor.
Austin was selected a American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American as well as first team all-state.
Austin led the state in hitting percentage for much of the season. She had a hitting percentage of .500 and averaged 2.97 kills and 0.65 blocks per set during the regular season.
She was also named co-Most Valuable Player of the Orange Empire Conference.
Sophomore setter Truth Hafey and Kruse were each selected All-Southern California Region for the Lasers.
Hafey topped the state and conference in assists per set 12.65 during the regular season.
Kruse was a co-MVP of the conference for the last two years.
She averaged 3.72 kills per set, which was third-best in the OEC, and led the conference in aces at 0.70 per set. She also chipped in 3.59 digs per set, which put her 10th in conference.
As the year ended, five Irvine Valley players earned NCAA Division I scholarships.
Those sophomores helped Irvine Valley to a 48-3 record and 30-1 mark in the Orange Empire Conference over the last two years indoors.
Austin signed to play indoor volleyball at Cal State Fullerton, Hafey signed for indoor with Georgia State, Unke signed to play both indoor and beach at Cal State Bakersfield, Kruse signed to play beach volleyball at the University of Hawaii and Gendale signed for beach with Cal State Bakersfield.
There will be even more about these star, volleyball student-athletes later this week.
