The Irvine Valley women's volleyball team needed a win Tuesday night in its final match of the 2023-24 regular season.
And the Lasers delivered.
Irvine Valley, ranked No. 8 in the state, defeated Riverside, 25-18, 25-16, 22-25, 25-18, to earn a co-championship in the Orange Empire Conference.
The Lasers with a record of 13-3 in the OEC, will share the title with Saddleback.
IVC also improved its record to 19-4 overall.
Irvine Valley won three of its last four matches of the season.
The Lasers cruised in the first two sets on Tuesday on sophomore night against Riverside.
Sophomore star outside hitter Tessa Marocco gave IVC a 2-0 lead in the second set with a kill.
Riverside came back in the third set and it was back forth until RCC pulled away late.
IVC tied the fourth set on a a kill by Natalia Brandlin at 17-17. An overpass kill by Brandlin gave Irvine Valley an 18-17 lead.
Irvine Valley never looked back, out-scoring Riverside, 8-1, to end the fourth and final set.
Marocco finished the match with a kill to give the Lasers a 25-18 win in the fourth set and a 3-1 victory.
Irvine Valley sophomore setter Mia Bertolone had an outstanding night with 60 assists (second best for her on the season) and sophomore opposite Ava Guenther finished with a team-high 22 kills.
Brandlin finished with 18 kills, hit .727 and had four blocks. Marocco ended with 17 kills, three aces and 14 digs and fresman libero Audrey Fowler chipped in 13 digs.
IVC will find out its 3C2A time and date for the So. Cal. playoffs after the seeding meeting on Thursday.
