In a battle of heavyweights it was the Irvine Valley women’s volleyball team that came out on top.

The Lasers bested Orange Coast, 25-30, 30-18, 30-17, 30-25, Friday night at IVC in a match-up of the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the state and a key contest in Orange Empire Conference action.

Orange Coast was No. 1 in the last poll released on Oct. 12 and IVC was No. 2. Since then Orange Coast had lost to Golden West and Irvine Valley remained unbeaten.

The Lasers chalked up another victory Friday night to move to a program record 14-0 on the season. IVC is 7-0 in conference.

"We never expected 14-0,” Irvine Valley Coach Tom Pestolesi said. “I would be happy with 10-4 right now. But the kids have worked really hard and they have believed in themselves and each other. The chemistry is very good on this team and we have kids that really understand their roles."

Irvine Valley beat Orange Coast (11-3, 6-2) despite dropping the first game in a match for just the second time on the year. But like that other match against Golden West (a five-game win), IVC came back strong.

The Lasers played their best and most spirited volleyball of the season in the second and third games.

The second game was close early. Irvine Valley led, 14-12, but then out-scored Orange Coast 8-4, to go up, 22-14. The Pirates pulled to within 23-17 when Laser freshman outside hitter Camryn Torromeo’s serve took over. She served a 5-0 run. And her ace gave Irvine Valley a 28-17 lead.

After a kill by sophomore middle blocker Jessica Flood set up game point, Orange Coast’s Jacquelin Reed hit a ball into the net to tie the games up at 1-1.

IVC carried its momentum into game three. The Lasers jumped out to a 7-1 lead behind two kills by sophomore outside hitter Chelsea Pavlik, a block by freshman middle blocker Katie Pascoe and a kill by freshman outside hitter Mari Guadagnini, and never looked back.

Irvine Valley was up by double digits for most of the game and closed out the 13-point win on a tip winner by sophomore setter Kelly Keating.

Orange Coast led narrowly early on in the fourth game until Irvine Valley tied things at 13-13. The Lasers went on a 5-0 run that featured two aces by Pavlik and led, 18-13.

Orange Coast got only as close as two points (19-17) the rest of the way.

Three straight points by IVC, two of which came on aces by Torromeo, pushed the lead to 23-17 and the Lasers never looked back.

A kill by Pascoe set up match point and then Pavlik finished it off with an ace to the right corner.

"I really think it came down to serving and passing and we were great at both tonight,” Pestolesi said. “I thought we also played very good defense. Our volleyball skills are good.

“We are doing a good job with things like serving and passing and when you do those types of things you are going to be in every match."

Pavlik finished with 25 kills to lead the way. The 25 kills tied a season high. She also had 10 digs and four aces. Guadagnini added 14 kills, Flood had 11 kills and Pascoe finished with eight kills.

Torromeo led the team in digs with 13 and in aces with eight. Keating ended up with 55 assists and four aces. IVC had 18 aces as a team.

“The main thing is that we took care of our home court,” Pestolesi said. “We beat all the big teams in conference, Fullerton, Golden West and Orange Coast, at home.

"We are on a roll right now. Hopefully we can keep it going."

Irvine Valley begins the second round of conference action at home next Wednesday against Santa Ana at 6 p.m.