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Men's volleyball team opens state tournament tonight
Apr 27, 2007
The Irvine Valley men's volleyball team opens up play in the semifinals of the 2007 California Colleges Commission on Athletics Championships Friday night at Santa Monica College.
The Lasers and defending state champion Long Beach City have been named the top seeded for the event, which will take place Friday and Saturday.
Irvine Valley will take on Pierce at 6 p.m. in one semifinal on Friday. Pierce earned the right to take on the Lasers by beating Grossmont in three straight games in a regional final match on Tuesday.
Irvine Valley and Pierce played once earlier this season. It was the third match of the season for the Lasers and they beat Pierce in five games.
The other semifinal at 8 p.m. will feature Long Beach City against Orange Coast. Orange Coast beat Santa Monica in five games in a regional match on Tuesday.
The championship final will take place on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Irvine Valley has compiled a 15-3 overall record and finished tied with Orange Coast for the Pacific Coast Conference championship with a 10-2 mark, but received the regional playoff bye on a tiebreaker.
It was the second straight conference title for IVC. The Lasers won the Orange Empire Conference title a year ago.
This is IVC's third straight state tournament appearance.
The Lasers are going after their second state title after having won it in 1993.
Irvine Valley is led by freshman outside hitter Peter Johnson, freshman middle blockers Ted Slaughter and Bryan Simmons, freshmana libero Sean Grubbs and freshman setter Tyler Rex.
Johnson was named the Pacific Coast Conference most valuable player after averaging 4.74 kills and 1.41 digs per game and hitting .398 on the season.
Both Slaughter and Simmons, who stand 6-8, were named second team all-conference this season.
Freshman outside hitter Marcus Fernandez was also named second team all-conference for the Lasers.
Grubbs averaged 2.51 digs per game to be named first team all-conference, while Rex was named first team all-conference after averaging 13.33 assists per game.
Long Beach City captured its fourth Western State Conference championship with an 8-2 record. Pierce tied Long Beach for the title, but the Vikings earned the top seed and regional playoff bye thanks to two head-to-head wins against Pierce.
Long Beach brings a 15-2 overall record into the event and is looking to capture its third state title in four seasons (2004, 2006).
Orange Coast, co champions of the Pacific Coast Conference, closed the year 17-3 overall. The Pirates have won two state titles (1991, 1994).
Pierce has won five state titles (1992, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003), the most in state history. Pierce was co-champions of the Western State Conference and takes a 14-4 record into the playoffs.
All matches are being played at Santa Monica College Campus Pavilion at 1900 Pico, Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405
Parking is available in Lot C on Pico and 17th St., with no charge.
Ticket pricing is $6 for adults and $3 for students/seniors.
Results will be posted following matches each night at www.coasports.org
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