Irvine Valley's women's volleyball team is headed back to the California Community College Athletic Association State Championships for a second year in a row after defeating El Camino, 25-17, 25-15, 23-25, 25-16, at home on Tuesday night in a Southern California Regional Final.
The Lasers, who were the top seed in the regional, ran their record to 24-0. No. 4 El Camino had its season end at 24-3.
"If a group of players deserves this it is this group," Irvine Valley coach Tom Pestolesi said. "We win because we have a lot of talent, but what has been most enjoyable for me as a coach has been to see this group get along so well. They are special kids and this is a great team accomplishment."
And Irvine Valley got contributions all-around on its team. Leading the way, as usual, was All-American sophomore 6-2 middle blocker Annie Mitchem. Mitchem finished with 17 kills, 13 digs and seven blocks. She even had one ace and one assist.
Most importantly, Mitchem, who was named the Orange Empire Conference MVP for the second year in a row this season, hit .593 on the night with the 17 kills coming against just one error in 27 attempts.
"I don't know if I've ever seen a player so long, so strong and so smooth," Pestolesi said of Mitchem, who plays all rotations for IVC. "She is just so fluid with everything she does. It is fun to watch."
Sophomore outside hitter Marisa Doran added 11 kills and 13 digs and sophomore setter Hailey Jones finished with 42 assists, three aces and 12 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Kobi Pekich had seven kills, a team-best 14 digs and three aces, freshman middle blocker Hannah Matt contributed seven kills for IVC and freshman defensive specialist Emily Reinking added nine digs.
Irvine Valley hit .274 as a team in the match to .094 for El Camino. The Lasers hit more than .300 in two of the four sets. El Camino hit under .100 in three of the four sets. IVC also out-blocked the Warriors, 9-5.
El Camino was paced by Darlene Lee with 14 kills and 13 digs, Nickeisha Williams with 11 kills, Brooke Russell with 28 digs and Sadie Fraker with 44 assists and 12 digs.
"El Camino dug everything and kept battling," Pestolesi said. "They have a great program. I just thought we were able to respond every time we had to tonight to get the win."
The Lasers had their way in the first two sets. They broke open a close first set with a 12-3 run to go ahead, 21-11. El Camino scored four in a row to make it 21-15. But IVC closed out the set six points later on an overpass kill by Doran.
An 11-3 run midway through the second set helped Irvine Valley take control. A kill by Cannon gave the Lasers a 17-7 advantage. A kill by Mitchem and then two hitting errors by El Camino gave IVC a 22-13 cushion. Later, Jones closed out the set with a kill.
Down two sets, El Camino never gave in. The Warriors came back from down, 19-15, and out-scored Irvine Valley, 10-4, the rest of the set. Nicole Echeverri ended the set with a kill.
It was the first set Irvine Valley had dropped at home all season and just its fifth set loss this season. IVC had won 38 sets in a row to that point.
But Irvine Valley bounced right back in the fourth set. They jumped out to a 12-6 lead after back-to-back hitting errors by the Warriors and never looked back, taking the set, 25-16.
"We are where we should be," Pestolesi said of making the state event. "But there are things we can still do even better. We have to stay focused and keep going."
The State Championships are this Friday through Sunday at Cabrillo College in Aptos. Friday will include practices for teams during the day and a banquet in the evening. Matches are Saturday and Sunday.
The four-team tournament will include Irvine Valley, Grossmont, Cabrillo and Feather River. Irvine Valley, Grossmont and Cabrillo were all in the event last year.
IVC, the top seed from So. Cal., will take on Feather River, the No. 2 seed from No. Cal. in the opening round. It is a double elimination tournament.
Cabrillo is the defending champion, having defeated Grossmont in the final last year.
