After playing in three straight, five-set matches, the Irvine Valley men's volleyball team was happy to have an easy one on Thursday night.
The Lasers, ranked No. 8 in the state, followed up a grueling win over Moorpark on Wednesday with a 25-19, 25-13, 25-16 sweep over Palomar at home.
Irvine Valley moved its record to 4-5 overall. Palomar, playing in its first match of the 2020 season, dropped to 0-1.
The Lasers fired on all cylinders Thursday.
A kill by sophomore opposite Demetre Gossett, who had a tremendous 26 kills in IVC's victory Wednesday, came through with a kill to put the Lasers ahead, 21-16, in the opening set.
Ahead, 23-19, another kill by Gossett gave Irvine Valley set point. And then a kill off the block by freshman opposite Josh Griffith ended the set.
Irvine Valley raced out to a 8-1 lead in the second set.
And the Lasers were up, 13-3, after consecutive kills by Gossett, sophomore outside hitter Max Wise and freshman middle blocker Trevor Weinert.
An overpass kill by sophomore middle blocker Kalei Ho'opai made it 15-4, a kill by Gossett made it 16-5 and an ace by freshman setter Peter Kim gave IVC a 17-5 lead.
A kill by freshman opposite Garret Schnitker and an ace by freshman libero Mason Colline helped Irvine Valley get to 22-9.
Freshman outside hitter Jaden Churchill's kill gave IVC set point at 24-11. And IVC won the set on a net violation by Palomar.
The third set was all Irvine Valley and had a fun ending when the 5-8 Colline soared for a kill on an assist from Kim.
Irvine Valley hit an impressive .473 on the night and had 11 different players record kills.
Freshman outside hitter Josh Beymer paced the squad with 11 kills and hit .500. Gossett recorded seven kills and hit .500 and Wise had six kills and also hit .500 for IVC.
Sophomore libero Red Ramos ended with nine digs and sophomore setter Jimi Wilson recorded 18 assists. Kim chipped in with 11 assists.
Irvine Valley plays again next Tuesday night, hosting San Diego Mesa at 6 p.m.
