Pirates Beach Volleyball Falls in So Cal Playoffs

The Ventura College women's beach volleyball team in their first year of competitive play picked up a berth in the State playoffs. Traveling to Grossmont College the Pirates took part in a regional consisting of VC, Grossmont and Fullerton. The Pirates were victorious in their opening match of the day against Fullerton by a score of 3-2. They then took on Grossmont with a berth in the CCCAA State Final Four on the line. Ventura played a tightly contested match, but fell 5-0 against Grossmont. 

Ventura 3 Fullerton 2

The Pirates picked up the win in their playoff opener on the strength of wins from their top two teams and then a three set win by their number five team to advance to the next round. The Ventura top team of Sarah Veloz and Tori Hiott earned a convincing win over the Hornets number one team by scores of 21-18 and 21-13. Brittney Mukhar paired with Paris Dosch for another strong Pirate win at number two behind scores of 22-20 and 21-13 to put VC up two matches to none.

Fullerton rallied though to win the matches at number three and number four, the Pirate team of Cassandra Lacanilao and Mikayla Spears overcame a loss in the first set of the match to win the next two sets 21-14 and 15-11 to propel Ventura over Fullerton and into a showdown with Grossmont for a final four berth.

Grossmont 5 Ventura 0

Ventura had matched up with Grossmont in the regular season and looked to avenge their earlier loss and end GC's season. While VC came up short in their attempt their five teams did not make it easy of Grossmont to knock out the Pirates. The top four teams from VC played to losses by less than six points in every set, including several determined by three points or less. Veloz and Hiott dropped back to back sets by scores of 21-18 at number one. Kierra Joyner and Braxton Jessie pushed the number four team from GC to the limits falling 21-18 and 21-19 in their contest. Sierra Joyner and Cassidy Simental picked up the lone set win for Ventura in the contest with a 21-16 win, but fell by scores of 21-16 and 15-8 in their other two sets.

Ventura finishes their first season of beach volleyball as a playoff team in Southern California. Their regular season record stood at 10-5 and they were 7-2 in the Western State Conference with both losses coming to El Camino. Seven of the Pirates ten wins of the year came by way of a shutout.