Irvine Valley's men's volleyball team is after a spot in the California Community College Athletic Association State Championship event at El Camino College next week.
It all starts on Saturday night with the Lasers, seeded third in the state, hosting No. 6 Santa Monica at 6 p.m.
Admission is free for spectators and social distancing is encouraged.
Irvine Valley finished the regular season at No. 3 in the California Community College Men's Volleyball Coaches Association State Poll. A spot it has been at most of the season.
The Lasers ended with a record of 16-4 overall and placed second in the Orange Empire Conference.
The Lasers swept Santa Monica at home earlier this season, 25-29, 25-29, 25-14, on Mar. 23.
Freshman outside hitter Colin Chillingworth finished with eight kills, freshman outside hitter Karl Stenlund added seven kills and freshman opposite Griffin Book had five kills for the Lasers.
Freshman setter Andrew Perez ran the offense most of the way and ended with 19 asssists. He also had eight digs. And freshman middle blocker Josh Beymer had another big night at the net on defense with five blocks.
The Corsairs had a big, five-set win over Santa Barbara City last Wednesday to stay in the playoff bracket. Mason Johnson finished with 20 kills and Elijah Chambers had 46 assists for SMC.
On the year, Johnson ranks third in the state in total kills with 204, Chambers is fifth in the state in assists per set at 7.92 and Javier Castillo is fifth in total digs with 181.
For IVC, Beymer leads the state in blocks at 1.36 per set, freshman libero Adam Schulte ranks fifth in the state in digs per set at 2.77 and is third in total digs with 183.
Freshman middle blocker Julio Gutierrez is third in the state in blocks per set at 1.16 and Chillingworth paces IVC in kills per set at 2.67.
The winner moves on to the State Championship Final Four at El Camino College Apr. 21 and 23.
CCCAA Men's Volleyball State Championship bracket (higher seed hosts)
No. 1 Long Beach City vs. No. 8 San Diego Mesa (Friday 6 p.m.)
No. 4 El Camino vs. No. 5 San Diego Miramar (Saturday (6 p.m.)
No. 3 Irvine Valley vs. No. 6 Santa Monica (Saturday 6 p.m.)
No. 2 Orange Coast vs. No. 7 Moorpark (Saturday 6 p.m.)
