Irvine Valley's women's volleyball team and Orange Coast produced another epic Orange Empire Conference match on Friday night at Irvine Valley.
Both teams were ranked in the top 15 in the state and are fighting for an OEC title.
It looked as if Orange Coast, coming off of a tough loss to Saddleback on Wednesday, was in complete control.
But the Lasers rallied. Irvine Valley came back for a 22-25, 25-27, 25-22, 25-18, 19-17 win in a match that last two and a half hours.
The victory pushed Irvine Valley, which is ranked No. 7 in the state, to an 11-2 record overall and 5-1 in conference. IVC is in a virtual tie with Saddleback for first place in the OEC.
Orange Coast, ranked 13th in the state, went to 9-5 overall and 3-3 in conference.
After dropping the first two sets close, Irvine Valley won a tough third set on late kills by sophomore middle blocker Natalia Brandlin and freshman outside hitter Tatum Pongs.
The Lasers found their groove and played the best volleyball of the night in the fourth set. IVC pulled away in the set midway through and closed things out with a kill off the block by Pongs and then another kill by Brandlin.
The fifth and final set was a barnburner. The set was tied at 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 before it even got more interesting. IVC took a 14-12 lead after a kill by sophomore oppposite Ava
Guenther and then a hitting error by the Pirates.
But the Pirates answered with the next two points. IVC served out and then Kingsley Mason had a kill to tie things at 14.
OCC got a block from Joceline Martinez and Lulu Utterback to go ahead, 15-14, and set up match point. The Lasers tied it at 15 on an OCC net violation.
Irvine Valley couldn't get the ball over on three on the next point and Orange Coast reached another match point.
Another kill by IVC's Guenther tied the set at 16.
IVC never trailed again. A kill by sophomore standout outside hitter Tessa Marocco gave Irvine Valley a 17-16 advantage.
Taylor Brandley came through with a kill for the Pirates to tie it up at 17.
But OCC hit into the net and then hit out on the next two points and IVC took the 19-17 wild win.
For Irvine Valley, Marocco finished with 22 kills and 24 digs to lead the way.
Guenther added 20 kills, sophomore middle blocker Brandlin had nine kills, hit .353 and had four blocks and freshman outside hitter Pongs chipped in eight kills and 11 digs.
Sophomore setter Mia Bertolone had a special night with career-high 61 assists and added four aces and freshman libero Audrey Fowler contributed 16 digs. Sophomore defensive speciliast Felicia Bonus also came up big for the Lasers with tough serves all night long.
Irvine Valley plays again next Wednesday, traveling to Santiago Canyon for a 6 p.m. OEC match
