The Irvine Valley women's volleyball coach Anna Unke got the kind of response she was looking for Wednesday night.
The Lasers, who had been ranked No. 5 in the state for two consecutive weeks, fell to unranked Golden West in four sets in the Orange Empire Conference opener last Friday on the road.
But IVC, which slipped to No. 16 in the state this week, responded with a resounding 25-15, 25-14, 25-18 victory over No. 8 Cypress at home on Wednesday night.
The win improved Irvine Valley's record to 7-2 overall and 1-1 in conference. Cypress went to 9-2 overall and 1-1 in conference.
Irvine Valley got 12 kills, three aces and seven digs from sophomore outside hitter Tessa Marocco, five kills and 10 blocks from sophomore middle blocker Natalia Brandlin and six kills, seven digs and two blocks from freshman outside hitter Tatum Pongs.
Freshman libero Audrey Fowler contributed 16 digs and sophomore setter Mia Bertolone ran the offense with 27 assists and chipped in eight digs and two blocks.
Irvine Valley broke open a tight first set with a 9-1 run and took a 20-11 lead on a kill by sophomore middle blocker Avery Bennett.
A block by Bennett and Brandlin ended the set at 25-15.
Irvine Valley led from the start in the second set. An ace by Marocco gave IVC a 16-7 advantage and a kill by Pongs put Irvine Valley in front, 17-8.
Marocco closed out the set with back-to-back kills for the Lasers.
The third set was tight early and tied at 6-6. But up, 14-12, Iervine Valley went on a 5-0 run capped by an overpass kill by Brandlin. It gave Irvine Valley a 19-12 lead and the Lasers never looked back.
Cypress didn't get closer than six points the rest of the way.
Irvine Valley plays again on Friday, traveling to Santa Ana for a 6 p.m. contest.
