Irvine, Calif. - Golden West battled back from a large late deficit in the second set and then won the final two sets to earn a hard-fought five-set victory over Irvine Valley in a key Pacific Coast Conference match on Friday night at IVC. Golden West came out on top, 13-25, 28-26, 26-28, 25-15, 15-11.
The defeat could very well have dropped IVC from first place in conference. IVC was tied with Orange Coast heading into the match.
Irvine Valley's record fell to 7-6 overall and 5-2 in conference. Golden West improved to 9-4 overall and 5-2 in conference.
Both of Irvine Valley's losses in conference have been at the hands of the Rustlers.
Irvine Valley looked like a world beater early on, racing out to 6-1 and 19-8 leads in the opening set. Back-to-back kills by freshman outside hitter Zak Beard gave Irvine Valley the 19-8 advantage. The Lasers were ahead, 22-11, after a kill and then a block by sophomore middle blocker Mark Metrakos.
A block by sophomore setter Kevin Fiske and Metrakos set up game point and a hitting error by Golden West ended the set.
Irvine Valley carried the energy and momentum into the second set. IVC was up, 7-1, off the bat.
Golden West got within 14-12, but IVC held on to the lead and even took a 23-17 advantage after a big kill by Metrakos.
But things unraveled quickly for the Lasers from there. Golden West scored five points in a row capped by a tip winner by Jimmy Torromeo to make it 23-22 IVC.
Irvine Valley still had set points at 24-22 and 24-23, but Golden West staved them off after an IVC hitting error and then a block by Torromeo and Jose Ulloa. The set was then tied, 25-25, and, 26-26, before Golden West won the final two points. Weston Carico had a kill and Jack Terry and Carico combined for a block for GWC to tie the sets at 1-1.
It was Irvine Valley that pulled out a long third set. The two teams were tied at 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. Irvine Valley fought off three set points before winning the set on plays by Sam Cornell. Cornell put down a roll shot to give IVC a 27-26 lead and then his kill on a Rustler overpass put Irvine Valley ahead, 2-1, in sets.
Golden West played its best set of the match to stay alive. Ahead, 5-4, the Rustlers out-scored Irvine Valley, 13-3 to take control. Carico had three kills and Torromeo had two kills and a block during the run.
Irvine Valley didn't get any closer than nine points the rest of the set. A kill by Aaron Gerardi gave Golden West the set and send the match to set No. 5.
The fifth set was a back and forth affair until, with the score tied, 8-8, Golden West scored four points in a row. Two errors by IVC, a kill by Carico and an ace by Gerardi accounted for the 12-8 Golden West lead.
Irvine Valley got within 12-10 after a GWC hitting error, but Golden West won three of the final four points for the win. Carico closed out the match with a kill.
Gerardi led Golden West with 16 kills. Carico added 14 kills, Torromeo had eight blocks and Ryan Redira finished with 11 digs.
Irvine Valley was led by Metrakos, who had 16 kills and five blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Trevor Lund finished with 12 kills and five digs, Cornell added 10 kills, sophomore libero Garrett Komisarek contributed 11 digs and Fiske finished with 50 assists.
Golden West hosts San Diego Mesa on Wednesday at 6:00pm.
