Strong post-season run sends Irvine volleyball team to CIF semifinals

Irvine’s volleyball team is headed to the semifinals of the CIF Division 6 playoffs. (Photo courtesy Irvine volleyball).

Irvine High School’s girls volleyball team continued its post-season surge, defeating Barstow in three sets in the quarterfinal round of the CIF Division 6 playoffs Wednesday night at Irvine.

The scores were 25-14, 25-17, 25-19.

Irvine moves into the semifinal round of the playoffs Saturday at 6 p.m. at El Rancho with the winner of that match moving on the finals on Saturday, Nov. 6 against the winner of the other semifinal between top-seeded Santa Barbara and South Hills.

Several players stood out for the Vaqueros in the victory Wednesday, according to Coach Noel Nguyen.

“Our team played really steady throughout the whole match thanks to the leadership and performance of our senior co-captains,” Nguyen said. “Senior co-captain outside hitter Nikki Chen led the team in digs and kills, senior co-captain middle blocker Madi Lee led the team in blocks, and senior co-captain setter Sierra Suttle ran an efficient offense that kept everyone involved.

“They also did all of the intangible little things to keep our team focused and playing at a high level together so that we were able to go on some runs in all three games when our senior libero Katie Vo, our ace leader, was serving and when our sophomore defensive specialist Maddie Kuan was serving a seven- point streak in game three.”

Nguyen, the Vaqueros’ first year coach, expected a battle from Barstow.

“When the Barstow Aztecs came in, we knew we were in for fight,” he said. “Head coach Dorothy Ili did a wonderful job teaching her girls to be comfortable with moving and covering the entire court.  Everyone on their team worked really hard defensively to make sure every part of the court was covered.  Then, outside hitter Reivensymone Ili had a quick, live arm that was able to put the ball away in any situation.  We had to be even more precise with our offense and points of attack, going into all four corners and off of the block to get our kills.

“The Aztecs also played with tremendous intensity and determination that never made our lead feel comfortable. Our girls did a great job staying positive and focused to weather each storm that Barstow would bring.”

Irvine, which finished fourth in the Pacific Coast League, made steady strides and has continued its outstanding effort in the playoffs.

“Ever since the week we faced University and Woodbridge in the first round of league, the team really started to make changes together as a unit to make huge strides,” Nguyen said. “The girls have been coming in to every practice and every game with an attitude that they are there to learn and find ways to improve.”

Irvine opened with a win over Grand Terrace in three sets.

“Head coach Ryan Purdie did a great job having his girls playing very scrappy and not giving up a single point without a fight,” Nguyen said. “Their school and fans, with the help of AD Tiffany Gordon, came in full force to support their Titans.  They forced us to improve our communication and discipline in order to come up with a victory.”

The Vaqueros then defeated No. 2-seeded Beaumont in five sets in the second round.

“Head Coach Jessica Lopez really had her Beaumont Cougars firing on all cylinders when they came to Irvine for the second round match up,” Nguyen said. “Their defense, especially with Destiny Affor playing libero, was absolutely relentless. Anything getting passed the block was being dug perfectly, and their setter Maddie Brown was setting dimes to her hitters, especially Vivian Lisboa who was getting so many kills from the middle.  We had to learn how to match their defensive intensity while maintaining our execution in some of the longest rallies we’ve had all season.”

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com