Irvine Valley's women's volleyball team ran its record to 23-0 and moved into the regional finals of the So. Cal. Playoffs for the second year in a row.
But it wasn't easy.
Ninth-seeded College of the Canyons gave top-seeded Irvine Valley everything it had before the Lasers pulled out a 26-24, 25-18, 25-17, win at home on Saturday night in a second-round match.
As close as it was at times, IVC still recorded its 20th sweep of the year overall and 12th sweep in 12 home matches.
Canyons, winners of the Western State Conference South Division, had its 17-match winning streak halted. The Cougars ended a solid year with a record of 21-4.
"We really fought and that is what I was most proud of," Irvine Valley coach Tom Pestolesi said of his team.
Irvine Valley, which won the Orange Empire Conference for the second straight season, jumped out to a 12-3 lead in the first set after a kill by All-American sophomore middle blocker Annie Mitchem.
And IVC was up, 18-12, after a hitting error by Canyons.
But the Cougars rallied with seven straight points. Back-to-back hitting errors by IVC put Canyons ahead, 19-18.
The set was back and forth after that. It was tied at 19, 20 and 21 before IVC scored two straight and went ahead, 23-21, on an ace by freshman defensive specialist Emily Reinking.
Two points later a kill by Mitchem gave IVC set point at 24-22.
Canyons didn't give in, taking advantage of an IVC serving error and then getting a kill by Serena LeDuff to tie the score at 24-24.
But IVC answered right back with the final two points of the set. Mitchem had a kill and then Jones ended the set with a tip winner.
Canyons stormed out to a 10-3 lead in the second set and later seemed to be in complete control with a 17-11 lead after a kill by LeDuff.
Behind the serving of sophomore outside hitter Marisa Doran, IVC not only climbed back into the set, but took the lead.
The Lasers scored 12 unanswered points to go ahead, 23-17.
Freshman opposite Juju Cannon also had a big hand in the run with six kills.
Canyons ended IVC's streak with a block for a point to make it 23-18.
But Irvine Valley scored the next two points to take it, 25-18, and go up in sets, 2-0.
Canyons scored the first two points of the third set. But Irvine Valley then reeled off six points in a row. A kill by Cannon put Irvine Valley ahead, 6-2.
The Lasers increased their lead throughout the set. Three points in a row on a kill by sophomore outside hitter Kobi Pekich, a kill by Cannon and a tip winner by Pekich put IVC in front, 20-10.
Canyons stayed alive and got to within 23-17 on a kill by Katie Rutecki. But Irvine Valley won the next two points to end the match.
Freshman middle blocker Hannah Matt had a kill and then Doran killed an overpass by Canyons to move IVC on to the next round.
"Canyons came in with a great game plan and the put so much pressure on us with their serving," Pestolesi said. "They play aggressive and emotional and no one had put us on our heels like that all year.
"But I thought our kids did a phenomenal job of staying steady and not panicking even when we were uncomfortable out there. It was really cool to see them handle those situations."
Mitchem led Irvine Valley with 15 kills, eight digs and two blocks. Cannon had 10 kills and Pekich finished with nine kills, eight digs and two blocks. Doran ended with seven kills and 12 digs, Reinking had five digs and two aces, freshman libero Kayla Scheevel added five digs and Jones contributed 40 assists and eight digs in the IVC win.
Irvine Valley will play at home in a So. Cal. Regional final on Tuesday against fourth-seeded El Camino at 6 p.m.
El Camino defeated No. 5 Golden West in four sets on Saturday night at El Camino.
No. 2 Grossmont will host No. 3 Cypress in the other So. Cal. Regional final on Tuesday.
The winners of the two matches on Tuesday move on to next weekend's CCCAA State Championships.
