Irvine Valley's women's volleyball team's string of three-set wins looked to be in jeopardy Wednesday night at home in an Orange Empire Conference match against Cypress.
IVC, ranked No. 1 in the state, cruised through the first two sets, but trailed, 21-18, and then, 23-22, in the third set.
The Lasers came through with another sweep however, out-lasting Cypress in the third set on their way to a 25-14, 25-10, 28-26 victory.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 14-0 overall and 7-0 in the Orange Empire Conference.
The Lasers swept their sixth straight opponent and have now won 20 sets in a row. The last time they dropped a set was against Fulleron in a four-set win at home on Sept. 20.
Irvine Valley got out to a quick start, taking a 5-0 lead behind the serving of sophomore outside hitter Lea Kruse. IVC then scored seven points in a row to take complete control of the first set at 13-3.
IVC took a 21-9 lead on a kill by sophomore outside hitter Alaina Gendale.
And another kill by Gendale put Irvine Valley ahead, 23-14.
A kill by sophomore opposite Jasmine Langle two points later ended the set.
Irvine Valley raced out to a 19-6 lead in the second set after an ace by sophomore setter Truth Hafey and then a kill by sophomore outside hitter Gabriela Griego.
Four points in a row off a kill by Kruse, kill by Griego, kill by Gendale and ace by Kruse made it a 23-9 Irvine Valley advantage.
The Lasers won the set when Cypress couldn't get the ball over on three.
The third set was back and forth throughout. It was tied at 14, 15, and 16 before Cypress went ahead, 19-16, and then took a 20-17 advantage on a kill by Alondra Lamas.
Cypress was up, 21-18, after Irvine Valley hit out.
But the Lasers got back in and tied things up at 21 it on a kill by Kruse and blocks by Kruse and sophomore middle blocker Alma Entesari and Langle and Entesari.
Cypress led, 22-21, after a tip winner by Brittany Zavala, but Kruse tied the score at 22 with a kill after freshman defensive specialist Lexie Pereira kept the point alive with a dig.
The Chargers took their last lead of the night at 23-22 on a kill by Hicks.
A kill by Griego and then tip by Griego for a point gave Irvine Valley its first match point of the night.
It took until the fourth match point try for Irvine Valley to put the match away.
A kill by sophomore middle blocker Kristin Austin made it 27-26, and then Cypress hit a ball into the net to give IVC the win.
Cypress, which handed Irvine Valley one of its two losses in 2018 and only defeat during the regular season, saw its record drop to 8-5 overall and 4-3 in conference.
Gendale finished with 14 kills and seven digs, Kruse had 13 kills, 13 digs and two aces, Griego added seven kills, sophomore libero Anna Unke chipped in 11 digs, Pereira contributed nine digs and sophomore setter Truth Hafey ended with 39 assists and six digs for the Lasers in the win.
Irvine Valley plays again on Friday, hosting Saddleback in a conference match at 6 p.m.
