Athletics

Irvine Valley, ranked No. 6 in the state, responds from its first loss of the season with an important 25-19, 21-25, 25-23, 18-25, 15-3 win Saturday afternoon at second-ranked San Diego Mesa. Jayli Nealy had 22 kills for the Lasers.

Irvine Valley ties LA Harbor, 1-1, on the road in a non-conference match Friday afternoon. The Lasers improved their record to 1-3-1 overall. IVC is home again on Tuesday, hosting Compton at the OC Great Park at 3 p.m.

Irvine Valley, ranked sixth in the state, falls in five sets to No. 17 MiraCosta on the road Wednesday night. The Spartans pulled out the win, 25-18, 20-25, 21-25, 25-17, 15-11. The Lasers drop their first match of the 2021 year.

Irvine Valley defeats Miramar, 25-10, 25-18, 25-7, in its 2021 home-opening match Friday night and improves its record to 2-0 overall. The Lasers received contributions from the whole roster in their first sweep of the year.

Irvine Valley plays Miramar on Friday night at home at 6 p.m. IVC started the year with a win at Canyons last Friday No fans are allowed, but the match will be streamed at www.facebook.com/IrvineValleyCollegeAthletics

Irvine Valley picks up its first victory of the season Tuesday afternoon, winning at El Camino, 1-0. Yvonne Ventura scored in the second half and goalie Frida Molina had two saves as Irvine Valley improved its record to 1-1 overall.

Irvine Valley, which hasn't competed in a match since the 2019 season when it made the So. Cal. Regional Playoffs, opens the 2021 campaign at 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon against El Camino at the OC Great Park Field 18.

Women's volleyball team beats College of the Canyons in four sets on the road in a 2021 season-opener against two of the best teams in Southern California. IVC plays next Sept. 3 against San Diego Miramar at home.

Irvine Valley, which hasn't played since 2019 when it finished second in the state, starts on the season on Aug. 27 at Canyons. IVC is now led by long-time women's assistant, men's head coach and former Laser player Ryan Windisch.

Irvine Valley men's soccer player Max Kleinhammes, who was a top striker on the 2019 team, will be playing at Division I Cal Poly this season. He scored 11 goals in 23 matches for the Lasers in his freshman season in 2019.

Freshman opposite Garret Schnitker is headed to Division I Charleston University in the fall. He averaged 2.45 kills per set this past spring and helped Irvine Valley (8-2 overall) capture an Orange Empire Conference title.

Nick Castello, a former star player at Irvine Valley and an assistant coach for the men's, women's and beach programs for IVC the last two years, was recently and proudly named an assistant coach at the University of Hawaii.

Former Irvine Valley standout Scott Paz, who helped the Lasers win two state team titles and also won a state doubles title with Bruno Figlia, was named the new women's tennis head coach at Wagner University this week.

Three Irvine Valley sports teams are a month away from competing in their first contests of the 2021 fall season. IVC women's volleyball, women's soccer and men's soccer will each play games on the road on Aug. 27, 2021.

Irvine Valley men's volleyball coach Ryan Windisch announced his team awards last week for the Orange Empire Conference champion Lasers. IVVC defeated rival Orange Coast to capture the conference title at OCC on May 27.

Jason Dietrich, who was the pitching coach at Irvine Valley from 2003 to 2006 and helped the Lasers reach the Super Regionals in 2005, was recently hired to be the new head coach for the Cal State Fullerton baseball program.

Irvine Valley, under coach Julie Hanks is ready for the 2021-22 season after not competing last year. The Lasers, who have won three straight Orange Empire Conference titles, open at home against Taft on Fri.. Nov. 5 at 5 p.m.

A warrior for the Irvine Valley team, sophomore outfielder Dane Nakatsuka is off to NAIA power Vanguard University in Costa Mesa. Nakatsuka battled back and hit .333 with 10 RBI for the Lasers in the 2021 season.

Catcher Gabe Briones and pitcher Cruz Barrios committed to UC Riverside earlier this week. The duo joined the Irvine Valley squad from Riverside College this past year and were key in helping the Lasers to a successful 2021 season.

Irvine Valley is ready for the 2021-22 season after not having a campaign last year. The Lasers play in a jamboree event in Sept. and then open their official year at Cuyamaca on on Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. under coach Jerry Hernandez.