The Irvine Valley women's volleyball team won its 20th match of the season, 11th in a row and now has an opportunity to make the California Community College Athletic Association State Championships.
The Lasers defeated Bakersfield, 25-17, 25-17, 20-25, 25-20, Tuesday night at home in the second round of the So. Cal. Regional Playoffs.
Irvine Valley, the No. 2 seed in the South, improved its record to 20-4 overall. No. 15 Bakersfield played tough, but ended its season with a record of 14-10 overall.
IVC will host a regional final on Saturday, taking on No. 10 Canyons at 6 p.m. with a trip to state on the line.
Canyons swept at No. 7 Santa Ana, 25-20, 25-20, 25-21, Tuesday.
The Lasers have played the Cougars, but it was early in the year. It was actually the first match of the season. IVC came out on top, 25-12, 25-20, 25-20, on Aug. 26.
But like Irvine Valley, Canyons has found its rhythm as the season has moved along. The Cougars improved their record to 19-8 overall with the win at Santa Ana. COC went 12-0 to win the Western State Conference South Division.
In the IVC win on Tuesday, the Lasers hit .318 as a team. Irvine Valley got big nights from a number of players.
Freshman outside hitter Tessa Marocco finished with 18 kills, nine digs and hit .410 (18-2-39), sophomore opposite Jayli Nealy ended with 13 kills, seven digs and three blocks and sophomore setter Maddie Harkey ran the offense with 41 assists, three aces and five digs. She added five kills.
Freshman middle blocker Avery Bennett and sophomore outside hitter Angelina Griego also chipped in five kills apiece. Bennett had four blocks, including a big solo stuff in the fourth and final set.
Sophomore middle blocker Kendall Fraser addded six blocks and sophomore outside hitter Chloe Swanson had four kills and eight digs in the win for IVC.
