The Irvine Valley women's volleyball team opens the California Community College Athletic Association Southern California Regional Playoffs by hosting Ventura on Tuesday night at home at 6 p.m.
The match will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/IrvineValleyCollegeAthletics
Irvine Valley, ranked No. 15 in the final California Community College Women's Volleyball Coaches Association State Poll of the regular season, went 16-5 overall and 12-4 in the Orange Empire Conference to finish in second place.
IVC, is seeded seventh in the playoffs.
The Lasers played six teams that reached the CCCAA So. Cal. Playoffs and defeated five of them, including No. 3 seed San Diego Mesa.
Freshman opposite Jayli Nealy, who was named an all-state player this past week paces the Lasers, averaging 3.64 kills per set. Nealy was named an AVCA two-year college player of the week this season.
Freshman outside hitter Jaclyn Sanchez averages 2.74 kills and freshman outside hitter Emily Guenter averages 1.84 kills per set.
Freshman middle blocker Kendall Fraser hit .397 percent and freshman middle blocker Kaitlyn Karsten hit .343 for the Lasers.
Sophomore libero Alexandra Pestolis averaged 3.60 digs per set, Sanchez averaged 2.73 digs per set and Guenter averaged 2.62 digs per set.
And freshman setter Maddie Harkey ranked third overall in the state at 9.73 assists per set for the Lasers.
Irvine Valley swept 11 opponents this season.
Ventura has a record of 17-6 overall and went 8-2 in the Western State Conference – North.
The Pirates ended up in a three-way tie for first place in the conference with Santa Barbara and Moorpark.
Ventura, which is seeded 10th in the playoffs, ended the regular season with a five-set (25-17, 20-25, 16-25, 26-24, 15-12) loss at Canyons on Jan. 10.
Ventura was led by Katey Mulville with 11 kills and four blocks, Savannah Marchese with 22 digs and Nevada Knowles with 39 assists and five aces.
On the year, Ventura had a balanced attack with Alexis Baloyo (2.10 kills per set), Darynne Bickers (2.07 kills), Knowles (1.96 kills), Mullville (1.92 kills) and Averi Carter (1.63 kills).
Knowles also averaged 7.21 assists.
Ventura swept 13 opponents this season.
Fans are welcome with social distancing to the match. Masks are required.
The winner will move on to face No. 2 Pasadena City or No. 15 Canyons with the highest seed being the home team.
