Irvine Valley's men's volleyball team had a tough time, but pulled out a five-set win over Grossmont in a nonconference game on Wednesday at home.
The Lasers went into the match with a 4-1 record and ranked No. 1 in the coaches state poll, while Grossmont was still searching for its first win on the year.
But the match was back and forth throughout before IVC earned a 25-19, 18-25, 25-14, 23-25, 15-12 victory.
IVC improved its record to 5-1 overall, while Grossmont fell to 0-6.
Freshman outside hitter Brennan To finished with 16 kills, hit .371 and had eight digs for IVC.
Sophomore outside hitter Ruben Lopez added 15 kills, three blocks and four aces and freshman middle blocker Matt August contributed 14 kills, hit .524 and had seven blocks.
Sophomore libero Josh Evers chipped in 11 digs and freshman setter Austin McBain had 53 assists, four blocks and seven digs in the win.
IVC scored the final three points to take the first set.
Grossmont used a 4-0 run during the middle of the second set to take a 17-9 lead and went on to take the set.
Playing its best volleyball of the night, Irvine Valley jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the third set and went on to an easy win in the set.
Irvine Valley led, 19-18, in the fourth set, but Grossmont rallied for the win to send it to five.
The Lasers answered in the fifth set, however. They went up, 12-8, on a kill by To.
Grossmont came back three straight points, getting a kill by Steven Rodriguez, a hitting error by IVC and a kill by Cameron Carruthers, to get within 12-11.
Irvine Valley then caught a break when Grossmont played an IVC kill attempt that looked to be going out. Irvine Valley went up, 13-11.
Grossmont got a kill by Matt Pike to stay within a point at 13-12.
But IVC won the final two points, getting back-to-back kills by To and August to close out the match.
Irvine Valley plays again next Wednesday, hosting Miramar at 6 p.m.
