The 2018 schedule for the defending California Community College Athletic Association state champion Irvine Valley women's volleyball team has been released.
The Lasers, who finished with a record of 27-0 and won the second state title in program history last season, will begin the season with a scrimmage at Cerritos on Friday, Aug. 17, and then will play its first official match of 2018 on Friday, Aug. 24 at Pasadena City College at 5 p.m.
IVC will host its first match of the season on Wednesday, Aug. 29, taking on a tough Long Beach City program, which is led by coach and Olympic champion Misty May-Treanor.
Irvine Valley will play several other top-notch programs in its pre-conference schedule, including at Canyons on Sept. 5, hosting Miramar on Sept. 7, and playing at Palomar on Sept. 12.
The Lasers open defense of their Orange Empire Conference title against rival Saddleback on Friday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m.
Irvine Valley had five sophomore standouts transfer to four-year schools. They included Taira Ka'awaloa (Hawaii Hilo), Gabi Lau (Western New Mexico), Olivia Aguilar (Cal State San Marcos), Diamond Brogan (Cumberland) and Megan Ramseyer (Butler).
But coach Tom Pestolesi has another strong recruiting class and returns several top players, including middle blocker Alma Entesari, outside hitter Alyssa Vortouni and defensive specialists Renata Bath and Jade Parham.
Entesari was named second team all-Orange Empire Conference last year for the Lasers and Bath recently reached the CCCAA Women's Beach Volleyball Pairs Championship event with Aguilar.
