Posted: Feb 20, 2024
In the first California Community College Men's Volleyball Coaches Association State Poll of the 2024 season, Irvine Valley is at No. 5.
The Lasers (3-2 overall) won their first two matches, dropped two in a row and then defeated Santa Monica in four sets in its last match on Feb. 14.
Sophomore outside hitter Matt Reid led the way, ending with 14 kills and hitting .458.
Sophomore outside hitter Zach McEntire and sophomore outside hitter Damon Kooiman each added 10 kills. Freshman setter Grant Dvorak chipped in seven kills, 24 assists and eight digs.
Irvine Valley plays again on Friday, taking on San Diego Miramar at 6 p.m.
The rest of the poll and top teams is below.
The two-time reigning state champion tops the first California Community College Men's Volleyball Coaches Association State Poll of the 2024 season.
Orange Coast is at No. 1 and is the two-time defending state champion.
The Pirates, which defeated Long Beach in five tough sets for the title last year, is off to a 5-0 start to this year. It has swept El Camino, Long Beach City and San Diego Mesa, defeated Long Beach in five and last Friday beat Santa Monica, 23-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-17.
Cole Hauser ended with 15 kills, Kam Vakilian had 12 kills and five blocks and Myles Henderson finished with 10 kills and 10 digs. Landon Seymour ran the OCC offense with 33 assists and chipped in nine digs.
The battle for second and third in the poll was tight with San Diego Mesa edging out Golden West. The Olympians are off to an 8-1 record with that only defeat coming to Orange Coast.
San Diego Mesa has recorded five sweeps on the year. It defeated both Santa Barbara City and El Camino in straight sets last Friday at an event at Miramar.
Nine different players recorded at least a kill in the victory over El Camino and TJ Letuligasenoa (nine kills) and Patrick Buckel (eight kills) led the way in Mesa's 25-17, 25-19, 25-20 win over Santa Barbara.
Golden West has a record of 6-1. Its only defeat came at the hands of No. 7 Santa Monica (30-28, 25-23, 25-23).
The Rustlers are currently riding a four-match win streak and have won 12 sets in a row.
Golden West swept Grossmont, 25-19, 25-23, 27-25 last Thursday at home. Curtis Harper paced the squad with 16 kills and 10 digs. He also hit .483 on the night.
Ezra Vlad finished with seven kills (.500 hitting percentage) and four blocks and Jaden Kodongan (21 assists) and Jay Pearson (19 assists) shared the setting duties.
Moorpark with a record of 4-2 is fourth in the poll. The Raiders split matches in the San Diego Mesa Quad on Feb. 9 in its last action, losing to Mesa in three and then holding off Grossmont in five sets (15-9 in the fifth).
Taylor Phipps had a big match with 22 kills, 17 digs and three blocks and Jacob Knudson added 21 kills. Merit Ghodrat ran the Moorpark offense with 54 assists and Braden Gonzales chipped in 18 digs.
Tied for seventh are Santa Monica and Grossmont. Santa Monica has wins over No. 3 Golden West and No. 9 Miramar and Grossmont is off to a 4-2 start with two victories over Santiago Canyon and single triumphs over LA Pierce and Santa Monica.
Grossmont defeated Santa Monica, 25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 22-25, 15-3 on Feb. 9 at Mesa.
Rounding out the poll are Miramar in the ninth spot and Long Beach City at No. 10.
Key matches this week in the state include No. 2 San Diego Mesa at No. 1 Orange Coast on Wednesday and No. 5 Irvine Valley at No. 9 Miramar and No. 3 Golden West at No. 7 Grossmont on Friday.
CCCMVCA State Top 10
1. Orange Coast (5-0)
2. San Diego Mesa (8-1)
3. Golden West (6-1)
4. Moorpark (4-2)
5. Irvine Valley (3-2)
6. Santa Barbara City (2-2)
T7. Grossmont (3-2)
T7. Santa Monica (3-4)
9. Miramar (3-1)
10. Long Beach City (1-5)
Others: Palomar (3-1), El Camino (1-4)
