The Irvine Valley women's volleyball team hosts its first match in Orange Empire Conference play Wednesday night and it should be a good one.
The contest features two of the top teams in the state with the Lasers hosting Orange Coast at 6 p.m.
Irvine Valley, ranked No. 15 in the state, has a record of 5-3 overall.
The Lasers snapped a two-match losing streak against ranked teams with an Orange Empire Conference-opening win against Riverside on Friday.
The Lasers swept RCC, 25-22, 25-14, 25-11 behind 15 kills by freshman outside hitter Tessa Marocco and 34 assists from sophomore setter Maddie Harkey.
On the year, sophomore opposite Jayli Nealy has averaged 3.93 kills per set, Marocco is averaging 3.68 kills and 1.96 digs, sophomore libero Gabi Brown is averaging 3.54 digs, freshman setter Mia Bertolone averages 5.83 assists and Harkey is averaging 4.96 assists per set for IVC.
Orange Coast moved up to No. 7 in the state coaches' poll this week.
The Pirates have a record of 7-1 overall.
They have won four straight matches and all have been sweeps.
OCC swept El Camino, 25-20, 25-13, 25-15 last Wednesday at home and then opened Orange Empire Conference play with a 25-4, 25-15, 25-15 win over Santiago Canyon at home on Friday.
On the season, Brisa Zapata-Reaves is averaging 3.68 kills and 3.50 digs per set to lead the way.
Paige Cutwright is averaging 2.17 kills and 0.91 blocks and Kingsley Mason averages 2.09 kills per set for the Pirates.
Emily Payne is averaging a team-best 5.52 digs per set and Grace Holmgren averages 6.50 assists per set.
Irvine Valley is back in action on Friday in a conference match at Golden West on Friday.
