Irvine Valley's women's volleyball team improved its record to 6-0 with its fifth sweep of an opponent on Tuesday night at home.
But coach Tom Pestolesi would liked to have seen a little more from his team, which was ranked No. 2 in the state and first in Southern California in the first coaches poll that came out on Monday.
"I think we were about a C- tonight," said Pestolesi after his team defeated Palomar, 25-20, 25-11, 25-22. "We were playing it too cool, not communicating and just coasting at times. We have to be better and I think we will on Friday."
Friday is when Irvine Valley starts Orange Empire Conference action. And the Lasers have a big one right off the bat. They play defending conference champion Cypress, which is ranked No. 13 in the state and seventh in So. Cal.
Irvine Valley fell behind, 6-1, off the bat to Palomar on Tuesday night, but then fought back to take the first set.
The Lasers played their best in the second set, dominating from the get go.
A kill by freshman middle blocker Alma Entesari put the Lasers ahead, 22-10.
Back-to-back kills by sophomore outside hitter Taira Ka'awaloa gave IVC set point at 24-10, and then two points later another Ka'awaloa kill ended it.
Irvine Valley was in a back and forth third set with the Comets.
IVC led, 20-17, on a kill by sophomore outside hitter Olivia Aguilar before Palomar scored four in a row to take the lead. A kill by Lisa Eldridge gave Palomar a 21-20 advantage.
But the Lasers turned in on when they had to, scoring five of the final six points of the match for the win.
A block by sophomore opposite Diamond Brogan and freshman outside hitter Alyssa Vortouni for a point gave IVC match point at 24-21.
After a kill by Palomar's Eldridge, Aguilar closed out the match and win for Irvine Valley with a kill off the Comet block.
"I thought Palomar played hard the whole match so give them credit," Pestolesi said. "I want to see more of that from us. When we do, we are a really good team."
Ka'awaloa paced Irvine Valley with 18 kills and five digs. Aguilar had 10 kills and eight digs, Entesari added six kills and two blocks, sophomore setter Gabi Lau finished with 11 digs and three aces and sophomore setter Megan Ramseyer ran the offense with 36 assists.
Irvine Valley hosts Cypress Friday at 6 p.m.
