Release by Robert Lewis, 3C2A/CCCWVCA SID
Link to the 3C2A site with even more pictures and information
S4 IRVINE VALLEY d. N1 SAN JOAQUIN DELTA, 25-22, 25-21, 25-21.
(WALNUT) -- Trailing 5-0 in the opening set, Irvine Valley first-year head coach Anna Unke called a timeout. From the moment the South #4 seed Lasers came back on to the playing court, they took complete control of the match in going on to a shocking sweep over North #1 San Joaquin Delta.
The Lasers (22-4) became the first South Region team to advance to the semifinals since 2019, back when Unke was the libero on a state finalist Irvine Valley team. The North was 8-0 in the quarterfinals combined in 2021 and 2022 after the pandemic prevented a state tourney in 2020.
Delta (27-2) ranked #1 in the state the entire regular season, struggled with mistakes, making 38 errors combined on attacks (22, hit .042), serves (six), receive (five), blocks (two) and ball-handling (three).
"I told my team at the first timeout, we got those points and our nerves out of the way. Now, just play volleyball," Unke said. "We kept things moving along. They got some runs and so did we, but we didn't let them affect us. I feel like playing some of those longer matches in Orange Empire Conference play and then again in the playoff vs. OCC really helped us be battle ready and prepared to play."
Delta head coach Molly Hummel was disappointed in her team's efforts.
"We tried to sustain being the state #1-ranked team but we also have 11 freshmen and you never know what will happen for them on the bigger stage at this tournament," Hummel said. "Irvine Valley served tough and got us out of sync. In the end, we were not the best version of ourselves, and this was not the time to not show that best version."
In the opening set, Emily Vickers served back-to-back aces as the Mustangs jumped out to the early lead. Irvine Valley regrouped and eventually took its first lead at 13-12 on an overpass kill by sophomore outside hitter Tessa Marocco. It was more of Marocco late in the set as she scored consecutive kills to cap the three-point win and a 1-0 set lead for IVC.
In set #2, the teams traded several ties and a few lead changes before the Lasers jumped ahead 17-12 with a 6-1 run capped by a a kill down the line by Marocco. An Irby kill cut it to 19-18 and a kill by Naila Ia again sliced it to one, 21-20. IVC was helped by three attack errors by Delta that capped the game win and a 2-0 lead.
In the third set, sophomore setter Mia Bertolone served an amazing 8-0 run, including two aces as Irvine Valley went for the kill so to speak.
Delta fought back to cut it to 14-11, and after Irvine led 20-15, got to within one at 22-21 on an ace by Annysa Arroyo. But Marocco followed with a back-line kill, followed by an ace by sophomore middle blocker Natalia Brandlin, then a match-point kill from sophmore middle blocker Avery Bennett as the Lasers celebrated the sweep.
For Irvine Valley, Marocco finished with 10 kills and seven digs, sophomore opposite Ava Guenther had nine kills and three blocks, Brandlin tallied eight kills and three blocks, and Bertolone set 30 assists with two aces and two kills. Freshman libero Audrey Fowler added a match-high 13 digs.
Delta was paced by AVCA 2-time All-American Kiyah Irby with 12 kills and 10 digs. Naila Ia added seven kills off the bench, Soleil Sands five blocks, Caprisa Brock 20 assists and 11 digs, and Kyra Saiers totaled 12 digs.
Irvine Valley will face N3 Feather River in a semifinal on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Mt. SAC. Feather River defeated S2 Ventura in four sets in another quarterfinal match on Friday.
