Irvine Valley's men's volleyball team ran into the hottest team in the state on Wednesday in a Pacific Coast Conference match.
Grossmont, a winner of five straight matches, made it six in a row with a 25-20, 25-18, 25-18 victory over the Lasers at Grossmont.
Irvine Valley's record slipped to 9-6 overall and 5-3 in conference. Irvine Valley remained in third place in the conference standings, but just a match in front fourth-place Golden West.
The top three teams from the conference make the playoffs.
Grossmont improved its record to 9-4 overall and 6-1 in conference. Grossmont stayed in a virtual tie with Orange Coast for first place in the conference standings.
Grossmont hit an impressive .677 as a team in the match.
Irvine Valley was paced by freshman outside hitter AJ Hammer, freshman middle blocker Marcus Dillon and freshman outside hitter Cole Murray. Each player had nine kills. Dillon added four blocks and Hammer had four digs.
Freshman libero Ryan Spector had five digs and freshman setter Steven Duhoux ended with 32 assists for the Lasers.
Irvine Valley has a bye from conference action on Friday and then plays at San Diego Mesa next Wednesday and hosts Golden West on Friday. The match against Golden West is the Lasers' final home contest of the regular season.
