The Irvine Valley women’s volleyball team took control of first place in the Orange Empire Conference Wednesday night at home.

And the Lasers did it convincingly. They swept Golden West, 25-16, 25-17, 26-24.

Irvine Valley and Golden West entered the contest tied for first with records of 6-1 each.

Irvine Valley, which was ranked ninth in the state, improves to 11-4 overall and 7-1 in conference, while fifth-ranked Golden West slips to 12-3 overall and 6-2 in conference. Irvine Valley has handed Golden West both of its losses in conference play.

The Lasers were in command throughout the match on Wednesday and only really threatened at the end of the third game.

IVC jumped out to a 23-13 in the first game. After Golden West scored three straight points, the Lasers put the game away on back-to-back kills by freshman middle blocker Carly Loucks and sophomore outside hitter Mari Guadagnini.

A five-point run in the second game gave IVC game-point at 24-15 and three points later a service error by the Rustlers put Irvine Valley ahead two games to none.

Irvine Valley looked as if it would also have an easy time in game three, getting out to an 8-1 lead. Irvine Valley later led, 17-10, on a kill by freshman Nichole May and 19-13, on a kill by Guadagnini, but Golden West didn’t go away.

The Rustlers scored seven of the next eight points to tie the game at 20-20.

The teams were tied at 22-22 when IVC scored two straight points to set up match point. But Golden West fought back with two in a row, including a tip winner by Taylor Cook, to tie the score at 24-24.

A kill by freshman outside hitter Casey Williams and an ace by freshman Alyssa Swatek ended the game and the match.

Guadagnini and Williams led IVC with 10 kills each. Guadagnini also had three digs and two blocks.

Loucks finished with five kills and four blocks and freshman middle blocker Kelsey Hall added five kills.

Sophomore libero Amanda Donaldson contributed seven digs and freshman setter Allie Hammer had 26 assists for the Lasers.

IVC plays at Cypress on Friday at 6 p.m. The Chargers were tied for fourth in the conference standings at 9-5 heading into the week.