IVC's Bath and Kruse battle, place third at state pairs championships

Irvine Valley's women's beach volleyball pairs top team of sophomore Renata Bath and freshman Lea Kruse gave it their over the weekend at the California Community College State Championships at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista.

The duo helped IVC finish tied for third in the team portion of the state tournament on Thursday and then fought through two days of individual action and reached the semifinals before being knocked out.

Bath and Kruse fought their way out of pool play through a tiebreaker and as the second-place team from their pool on Friday to get to bracket play on Saturday.

The duo was on top of its game from the start once the final rounds started.

Starting in the round of 16 on Saturday, Bath and Kruse defeated IVC freshmen teammates Anna Unke and Gabriela Griego, 21-16, 21-18, in the round of 16. Unke and Griego went undefeated and won their pool on Friday afternoon. 

Bath and Kruse then beat the Feather River team of Aurora Carnes and Mere Nagase, 21-15, 22-20, in the quarterfinals of the tourney.

The duo took on the top team from Northern California in a semifinal. Bath and Kruse captured the first set over West Valley's Kaylin Henderson and Mapuhalo Nekona, 21-19, but dropped the final two sets, 21-15 and 15-13.

The Irvine Valley pair ended up tied for third.

Henderson and Nekona lost to Grossmont's team of Ashlee Goyocoochea and Alexcis Morris, 21-18, 19-21, 16-14 in the final.

Bath finished her college career at Irvine Valley having reached two state team beach championships as well as two pairs state events. She paired with former IVC standout Olivia Aguilar last year.