Irvine Valley's women's volleyball team begins its postseason journey at home on Tuesday.
The Lasers, the only undefeated team in the state and ranked No. 1 in the final coaches poll of the year, earned the No. 1 seed in the So. Cal. Regional Playoffs and will host No. 18 San Diego City at 6 p.m.
Irvine Valley, which won its third straight Orange Empire Conference title and ended the regular season with a record of 23-0 overall, has dropped just four sets all season (69-4).
The Lasers last played on Nov. 18, winning at Saddleback, 25-17, 25-15. 25-18.
IVC was paced by sophomore outside hitter Lea Kruse, who finished with 17 kills, nine digs and four aces. Kristin Austin added 13 kills, three blocks and hit .500.
Sophomore outside hitter Gabriela Griego had 10 kills, sophomore libero Anna Unke came up with 14 digs and sophomore setter Truth Hafey ended with 44 assists, six digs and two blocks.
Austin and Kruse were named the MVPs of the Orange Empire Conference last week.
Hafey, Unke and Griego were named first team all-conference and Alaina Gendale and Alma Entesari were each picked to the second team.
On the year, Austin leads the state in hitting percentage at .500. Hafey leads the state in assists per set at 12.65.
Kruse averages 3.72 kills, 3.59 digs and 0.70 aces per set.
Austin is also averaging 2.97 kills and 0.65 blocks per set. Griego averages 2.88 kills and is hitting .323, Gendale averages 2.79 kills and 2.74 digs and Unke is averaging 3.47 digs per set for the Lasers.
San Diego City has a record 15-10 overall.
The Knights finished fourth in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference with a mark of 10-6.
San Diego City took down No. 15 Rio Hondo on the road in a play-in match last Saturday.
San Diego City earned a 25-17, 25-20, 20-25, 25-18 victory.
Kiara Pena had 20 kills and hit .341 to lead the way for the Knights. She also added 20 digs.
Mariah Wonders finished with 14 kills and six blocks, Alina Fletes added 40 digs and Kareemah Hopkins finished with 45 assists and 18 digs.
On the year, Pena averages 3.21 kills and 3.40 digs per set, Wonders is averaging 2.29 kills, Fletes averages 6.76 digs, Charlee Carman averages 4.21 digs and Hopkins is averaging 8.84 assists and 2.97 digs per set for San Diego City.
The winner of Tuesday's match will take on the winner of No. 8 Long Beach City and No. 9 Orange Coast. That second-round match will take place on Saturday, Nov. 30.
SoCal Regional Playoffs – 1st Round
(18) San Diego City at (1) Irvine Valley
(9) Orange Coast at (8) Long Beach City
(13) Fullerton at (4) El Camino
(12) Pasadena City at (5) Moorpark
(14) Canyons at (3) San Diego Mesa
(11) Cypress at (6) MiraCosta
(10) Chaffey at (7) Bakersfield
(17) Golden West at (2) Grossmont
