The new-look Irvine Valley women's volleyball team looked awfully good in its 2015 season opening match on Wednesday at home.
Irvine Valley defeated Palomar, which was already playing its fifth match, 25-20, 25-22, 18-25, 25-11.
The Lasers won the state title and had a record of 27-0 last season, but just three players are back from that squad. And all three of those players are in new roles this year.
Those three, sophomore outside hitters Hannah Matt and Kayla Scheevel and sophomore libero Emily Reinking, led the Lasers to the win on Wednesday night along with newcomers Jenna Olbright, Olivia Aguilar, Kayla Shields, Cozette Hawyrliak, Hailey Zimmermann and Taylor Askins.
"Everyone that was asked to contribute did tonight and that was pretty cool," Irvine Valley coach Tom Pestolesi said. "Our three returning players did really well and that is what you expect."
Matt, who has been moved from middle blocker to the outside, ended with 19 kills, hit. 400 and had six digs. Scheevel, who went from being the libero last season to a featured outside hitter this year, added 13 kills, and Reinking, who has gone from a defensive specialist to the team's libero, contributed 17 assists.
Aguilar chipped in 10 kills, three blocks and three assists from her outside hitter spot. Olbright, the team's new setter, had 44 assists and four digs, Shields finished with four kills and 10 digs, Askins had six digs and Hawyrliak ended with three aces.
The first two sets were close throughout. There were nine ties in the opening set before Irvine Valley scored five points in a row to take a 20-15 lead. Aguilar had two kills and two service winners during the run.
Irvine Valley got to set point on a Palomar service error and then won the set on a lift called on the Comets.
Irvine Valley jumped out to a 13-7 lead in the second set on a kill by Matt. The Lasers led, 17-12, after an ace by Scheevel, but Palomar scored eight of the next 11 points and tied the set at 20-20 on an IVC miscue.
The set was tied at 21 and 22, but a kill by Scheevel put Irvine Valley up for good.
Two points later Aguilar ended the set with a kill.
Palomar battled back to take the third set. The Comets scored seven straight points midway through the set. It went up, 19-12, after two straight aces by Taylor Schade and an IVC error. Palomar won the set on a kill by Vanessa Flores and then an IVC hitting error.
But Irvine Valley rebounded in set four to put the match away. Up, 5-4, Irvine Valley went on a 7-1 run to take control. Olbright won a joust at the net, Scheevel had a kill and Aguilar came up with a block. IVC took a 15-7 lead on an ace by Scheevel and went ahead, 17-8, on a kill by Aguilar.
And the Lasers finished the match even stronger, scoring the final seven points in a row. Hawyrliak had two straight aces to make it 23-11. After Palomar hit into the net, Scheevel ended the match with a kill off an assists from Askins.
"For our first match, I was really pleased," Pestolesi said. "We of course have things to work on, but I couldn't have asked for much more tonight."
Irvine Valley plays again on Friday, traveling to MiraCosta for a 6 p.m. match.
