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Spartans Beat #6 Lasers In Fifth Set

When the #6 ranked team, Irvine Valley, traveled to the #17 ranked team, MiraCosta, it was destined to be a battle of the titans.

Sophomore Savannah So'oto jumps to hit a volleyball.
September 8, 2021
Box Score

When #6 ranked Irvine Valley traveled to the #17 ranked MiraCosta, it was destined to be a battle of the titans.  The match lived up to the hype and in the end the Spartans earned the 3-2 victory in the fifth set.  

MiraCosta came out strong and had a small lead most of the first set.  A balanced offensive attack and a strong defense anchored by sophomore libero Paola Peralta helped the Spartans take the first set by a 25-18 score.  The Lasers responded in the second set looking reenergized and led by the multiple kills by Jayli Nealy.  Irvine Valley won the second set 25-20 to get even heading into the third set. The Lasers also won the third set by a score of 25-21.  The Spartans maintained a relentless team attitude led by setters Giulia Cefalu and Summer Hoslett, but they couldn't slow down Irvine Valley's talented attack.

In the fourth set MiraCosta faced a 'must win' scenario.  Led by the offense of Madison Nichols, Savannah So'oto, and Aria Barker, the Spartans played with a confidence that made it clear they would refuse to lose.  MiraCosta won the fourth set in an impressive display of mental fortitude, finishing with a score of 25-17.

The fifth and final set proved to be as exciting as the rest of the match.  The two teams traded point for point until MiraCosta took a small lead that eventually became a 15-11 final score. Not only was the win an important one for momentum in the season, but also one that will have playoff implications later in the year.

Cefalu and Hoslett contributed 17 and 13 assists respectively.  So'oto and Peralta both finished with 13 digs while Cameron Martinez added nine. Martinez also made some timely kills throughout the match using her athleticism on the left side. Nichols (11), So'oto (7) and Barker (7) led MiraCosta with overall kills.

The Spartans only have a short time to enjoy the win as they prepare to face off with #4 Moorpark on Friday for a single match.  Friday's match will begin at 1PM and can be watched live on MiraCosta Volleyball's Facebook page.