The Irvine Valley women’s volleyball team ran its record to 2-0 in Orange Empire Conference play with a dramatic five-game win over Cypress Wednesday night at home.

It was the Lasers’ second straight win over a ranked team in the state. IVC, which is ranked 17th in the state, defeated third-ranked Golden West in four games last Friday.

Cypress entered Wednesday’s contest ranked 13th.

Irvine Valley and Cypress (6-3, 1-1) traded jabs through the first four games.

The Lasers (6-3 overall) came out firing in the first game, never letting Cypress get untracked.

The Chargers battled back in the second game, taking an early 8-5 advantage and never surrendering the lead. IVC didn’t get closer than two points at any point in the game.
The Chargers went ahead, 24-20, on a kill by Marina Samoa and two points later captured the game on an IVC hitting error.

The Lasers regained the momentum to take the third game and Cypress won a back and forth battle in the fourth game. The lead changed hands seven times and there were 15 ties.
Tied, 23-23 after a combo block for a point by IVC freshmen Carly Loucks and Nichole May, Cypress took the lead for good with a kill. Then an IVC hitting error sent the match to a fifth game.

But Irvine Valley rebounded in the deciding frame. And freshman Casey Williams played a big part.
The opposite missed her first hitting attempt in the game, giving Cypress a 1-0 lead.

But Williams then reeled off two straight kills and later three in a row, including one on a scooped left-handed try to put IVC ahead, 7-1.

The Lasers went up, 9-1, on another Williams kill and never looked back.

Sophomore outside hitter Camryn Torromeo was also a factor. She was serving when IVC reeled off the nine points in a row and had one ace during the streak.

An ace by freshman Alyssa Swatek put IVC ahead, 12-3. Sophomore outside hitter Marilena Guadagnini stuffed two overpasses in a row to give the Lasers game and match point and then sophomore libero Amanda Donaldson served an ace to end things.

Williams led Irvine Valley with 17 kills, including seven in the deciding game. Guadagnini had 11 kills and five digs, Loucks added eight kills and four blocks, May contributed seven kills and nine digs, Torromeo had five aces and Donaldson finished with 11 digs and five aces.

Freshman setter Allie Hammer ended with 44 assists and three blocks.

IVC plays again on Friday, traveling to Riverside for a 6 p.m. match