7The Irvine Valley men's volleyball team started its 2025 season with a sweep of Los Angeles Pierce on Tuesday night at home.
The Lasers rolled to a 25-17, 25-18, 15-13 non-conference win over the Brahmas.
After a little bit of a slow start, IVC took a 16-12 lead in the first set on a kill by freshman opposite Travis Kaufman.
Pierce stayed close until the Lasers won nine of the last 13 points of the first set.
A kill by freshman outside hitter Caleb Manea gave IVC a 21-15 advantage.
Kaufman scored another kill to move the score to 22-16.
And an overpass kill by freshman middle blocker Joshua Damianopoulos pushed IVC set to point.
Kaufman ended the first set with a kill.
A setter dump by freshman Bryce Nohava ended the second set and then the Lasers rolled in the third set.
Irvine Valley jumped out to a 14-8 lead on an ace in the third set by Nohava and led, 17-9, after a combo block for a point by Hurdiss and Kaufman.
A solo block by Hurdiss moved IVC to match point at 24-13.
Pierce was called for a back row attack foul to end the contest.
Irvine Valley had several players stand out across the board.
Kaufman finished with 11 kills, hit .316 and had three block assists to pace the Lasers.
McGrew added nine kills and hit .500 in the contest.
Manea and Damianopoulos each had six kills for the Lasers. Damianopoulos hit an impressive .625 for the match.
Nohava ran the IVC offense with 28 assists and freshman libero Cage Gonzalez ended with four digs and four assists.
The Lasers, expected to be on the top teams in the state, play next at Antelope Valley on Friday at 6 p.m.
Even more pictures to follow on Wednesday
