Irvine Valley won the battle of Pacific Coast Conference unbeatens Friday night.

And the Lasers had an easy time doing it.

Defending state champion IVC swept Orange Coast, 30-23, 30-19, 30-22 at Irvine Valley.It was Irvine Valley’s third straight sweep to start conference play and seventh straight-game win in eight victories this season.

The last two wins were the most impressive of the season so far for the Lasers (8-1, 3-0). They handled their two biggest challengers in conference – Golden West and Orange Coast (6-3, 2-1) - with little trouble. IVC won all six games played against those two schools by seven points or more.

“It has been a testament to the guys and them trusting what we are teaching them,” IVC Coach Tom Pestolesi said. “We just need to keep playing steady and together. The guys have done a really good job of not letting anything bother them so far.”

Irvine Valley got off to a great start to Friday’s match. The Lasers scored the first four points and led from start to finish.

Leading, 22-18, IVC went on a 6-2 run to put the opening game out of reach. A kill by freshman outside hitter Reese Haine put Irvine Valley in front, 28-20.

Five points later, freshman middle blocker Nick Martus closed out the game with a kill.

The second game was close until Irvine Valley went on a 10-2 run to move out to an 18-8 lead.

Sophomore outside hitter and defending conference player of the year Peter Johnson had three kills during the run and Martus added two kills. IVC never looked back and finished out the game on a kill from sophomore outside hitter Tim Golden.

The Lasers got off to another good start in the third game. A kill by Johnson put them in front 5-1.

Orange Coast got to within 5-4 after a pair of kills by Grant Keene.

But the Lasers then scored five straight points – two of them coming on a kill and a block by Haine – to go ahead, 9-4.

OCC pulled to within 10-8 on a kill by Jake Awerkamp, but it was the Lasers’ night. Another 4-0 run moved IVC ahead, 14-8. Sophomore outside hitter Morgan Suttich had two aces during the spurt.

The Lasers led by at least five points the rest of the way. An 8-3 run capped by two kills by Johnson gave Irvine Valley a 25-15 lead.

And the Lasers later won it on a combo block by sophomore middle blocker Mitch Lawrence and Martus on Keene.

IVC had a balanced attack on the night. Johnson finished with 11 kills, five digs and two aces, Martus had 10 kills and three blocks, Haine added eight kills, seven digs and three blocks and Suttich contributed six kills and four aces.

Sophomore libero Kaleo Baxter finished with six digs and freshman setter Phil Younglove had 35 assists and six digs.

“We are playing well and we are in a real good spot right now, but there is still a long way to go,” Pestolesi said. “There are always things we can improve on.”

Irvine Valley plays host to San Diego City on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in another conference match.