Irvine Valley's men's tennis team started its 3C2A So. Cal. playoffs with an easy win over Santa Barbara City, 5-0, on Tuesday afternoon at home.
The Lasers, who finished second in the Orange Empire Conference, and earned the fourth seed, beat No. 5 SBCC.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 10-2 overall.
IVC will next play at No. 1 Ventura next Tuesday, Apr. 15 at 2 p.m. with a trip to the state tournament in Ojai on the line.
Irvine Valley won all three doubles matches to start.
The Lasers received wins from the No. 1 team of sophomores Nick Grove and Luciano Pardo, 8-4, No. 2 team of freshmen Nevin McCann and sophomore Luis Moros, 8-2, and the third duo of freshmen Nicholas Villar and Jonathan Hinkel, 8-3.
Grove and Pardo won the state title in doubles last season.
In singles, Santa Barbara City had to forfeit at the No. 6 spot, giving IVC a 4-0 lead and needing just one more win to take the match.
Freshman Lucas Diaz clinched the contest for the Lasers with a 6-2, 6-0 victory on the fourth court.
Irvine Valley was up on every other singles court.
