The Irvine Valley women's volleyball team showed why it is the No. 4 in the 3C2A Regional Playoffs Tuesday night at home.
The Lasers defeated No. 13 Pasadena City, 25-16, 25-21, 25-16, in the second round of the regionals.
And Irvine Valley will now host a regional final against Orange Empire Conference rival, Orange Coast, Saturday at home.
Sophomore middle blocker Natalia Brandlin had another star performance with eight kills, a .500 hitting percentage and five blocks to pace the Lasers.
IVC sophomore outside hitter Tessa Marocco ended with seven kills and eight digs, sophomore opposite Ava Guenther had a solid five kills, two aces, four digs and five blocks.
Sophomore middle blocker Avery Bennett added four kills, hit .500 and had three blocks, sophomore setter Mia Bertolone ran the offense with 25 assists and seven digs and two blocks and freshman libero Audrey Fowler ended with a team-high 10 assists.
Irvine Valley led from start to finish in the first set, jumping out to a 20-11 lead.
IVC moved to within set point at 24-15 on a kill by Marocco. Two points later Marocco put down another kill to close out the set.
The second set was a different story with Pasadena City leading most of the way. The Lancers were up, 14-7, but Irvine Valley out-scored PCC, 18-7, the rest of the way.
Irvine Valley tied things up at 16 on a kill by sophomore middle blocker Avery Bennett.
Pasadena City still held a 19-17 lead after a kill by Emma Yogan.
But the Lasers rolled off eight of the next 10 points. IVC got a big block by Brandlin and sophomore outside hitter Olivia Ortega to start the run.
Guenther came through with a kill, Brandlin added another kill and then Pasasdena City had a hitting error to give the set to IVC.
The Lasers made a move in the middle of the third set to take control.
They led, 15-12, but then went on a five-point run, capped by a hitting error by Pasadena City to take a 20-12 advantage.
Irvine Valley moved to match point when the Lancers didn't get the ball over on three and a kill by Marocco closed things out for the Lasers and moved them on to the regional final.
