What looked like an easy win after the first two sets for the Irvine Valley men's volleyball team turned into quite a battle Wednesday night at home.
Irvine Valley rolled in the opening two sets, but ended up having to hold on for a 25-21, 25-12, 20-25, 18-25, 15-13 nonconference win.
The two teams went into the contest both undefeated on the year. Irvine Valley improved its record to 4-0 with the victory, while Moorpark slipped to 3-1.
Irvine Valley took control of a tight first set by scoring six of eight points midway through. A kill by sophomore opposite Demetre Gossett gave the Lasers a 19-14 lead.
Moorpark pulled within 23-21 later in the set on a ball handling error by IVC. But the Lasers closed out the set with a kill by sophomore middle blocker Julio Gutierrez and a hitting error by the Raiders.
It was all Irvine Valley in the second set. A kill by Gossett, an ace by freshman setter Kaina Alvarez and a kill by freshman middle blocker Adam Herschberg gave IVC a 13-6 advantage.
The Laser lead was soon 10 points at 19-9 on a combo block by Gossett and Gutierrez.
Up, 21-12, Irvine Valley scored the final four points of the set and finished on a kill by freshman outside hitter Damon Kooimen and a block by Kooimen.
But Moorpark answered in the third set.
It was close early before Irvine Valley went ahead, 15-12, on a service error by the Raiders.
Moorpark outscored IVC, 13-5, the rest of the set.
The Raiders tied it at 16 on a kill by Sean Schmutz and then took the lead for good at 17-16 when Irvine Valley hit out.
Ahead, 24-20, Moorpark ended the set and got back in the match with a block by Michael Stahl and Jaxon Rust.
Irvine Valley led, 11-10, in the fourth set, but Moorpark made another run, scoring 15 of the final 22 points of the set.
IVC got within 21-17 on a kil by freshmna outside hitter Zach McEntire, but the Raiders ran off three points in a rorw capped by a block and then wrapped up the set three points later on a hitting error by the Lasers.
Both teams had their chances in the fifth and final set. Moorpark led, 4-2, and then Irvine Valley was up, 10-7.
The set was tied at 12 after a kill by Moorpark's Stahl.
But after a missed serve by the Raiders and a big kill by Gossett, Irvine Valley took control for good at 14-12.
Irvine Valley won on a hitting error (15-13) by Moorpark.
Gossett ended with 17 kills and nine digs, Kooiman had 14 kills, eight digs and two blocks and McEntire finished with 10 kills and 14 digs.
Alvarez ran the offense for IVC with 40 assists and chipped in 12 digs and sophomore libero Adam Schulte contributed 20 digs.
Irvine Valley gets a bit of a break. It doesn't play again until next Wednesday at home against Santa Barbara City at 5 p.m.
