Irvine Valley's women's volleyball team had its work cut out on Friday night at home.
The Lasers were taking on one of the remaining two teams that were undefeated in Orange Empire Conference play in district rival Saddleback.
IVC was also down, 2-1, after three sets into the contest.
Irvine Valley battled to take the first set, 25-23, but the Bobcats came back with 25-23 and 25-12 wins in the next two sets to move within a frame of wrapping things up.
But IVC had other plans.
Irvine Valley trailed, 20-15, in the fourth set, and then later trailed, 22-18, and, 23-20, but moved within 23-22 on an overpass kill by freshman outside hitter Emma Mendel and tied the fourth set at 23 on a kill by freshman middle blocker Jazlynn Fu.
Saddleback moved to set point on a net call on the Lasers.
Irvine Valley tied it at 24 on a serve into the net by Saddleback.
And the Bobcats earned another set point on a setter dump by Kyra Bouldin.
A kill by Mendel pulled Irvine Valley back even.
The match was tied at 26 before a kill by sophomore outside hitter Alya Mersin put IVC at set point at 27-26.
An ace by Mendel gave the Lasers the win and moved the squads on to a fifth and final set.
The fifth set was close throughout.
It was tied at 5, 6, 7 before the Lasers took the lead for good on an ace by Mendel to put IVC ahead, 8-7.
And it was 9-7 after a net call on the Bobcats.
A roll shot by freshman setter Tori Esko gave Irvine Valley a 12-10 lead and the Lasers were up, 13-10, after Saddleback hit into the net.
Freshman outside hitter and setter Dalilah Rivero scored a kill to give IVC a 13-10 advantage and three points later the Lasers took the match on a net call on the Bobcats.
Irvine Valley was paced by Mersin with 21 kills and nine digs in the match.
Mendel finished with 16 kills, three aces and 10 digs for IVC.
Fu added 11 kills, Esko had five kills, 23 assists and four digs, freshman middle Samantha Schellenberg contributed five kills and five blocks and Rivero came through with five kills, 30 assists and seven digs in a great, overall match for the Lasers.
Freshman libero Eliza Quiat also added 22 digs for IVC in the victory.
Irvine Valley plays again next Wednesday, hosting Fullerton in a conference match at 6 p.m.
