Pirates Sweep Regular Season Home Finals

The Pirate beach volleyball team swept a pair of Western State Conference matches in their regular season home finale Friday at the Harbor Cove Courts at the Ventura Marina. The Pirates (9-6, 4-2) swept Antelope Valley 5-0 in the morning match before earning a measure of redemption in the afternoon, defeating Bakersfield 4-1 after falling to the Renegades 3-2 earlier in the season. The No. 2 team of Armonee Hunter and Kasie Spencer clinched the afternoon match with their three-set victory after giving up just 22 points in the morning match.

Ventura swept through the morning match, 5-0 over Antelope Valley. Hunter and Spencer won easily 21-14, 21-8 at No. 2 while Carina Cates and Danielle Garcia weren't far behind, claiming their No. 5 match 21-15, 21-9. Taylor Benitez-Fanslow and Shea Mckeown also claimed a lopsided 21-15, 21-8 win at No. 3 and Sofia Gomez and Jordan Neria prevailed at no. 4, 21-9, 21-17. Braxton Jessie and Janessa Simental won their No. 1 match , coming from behind to win 11-21, 21-19, 19-17 to complete the VC sweep.

The Pirates returned in the afternoon seeking some redemption against Bakersfield after dropping tight 3-2 decision earlier in the season to the Renegades. Cates and Garcia earned VC's first point with a 21-11, 21-6 win at No. 5.  After that, things got much more difficult as the four remaining matches went to a full three sets. Benitez-Fanslow and Mckeown claimed the Pirates second point with a 21-16, 16-21, 15-5 win at no. 3. Hunter and Spencer clinched the victory for VC taking their No. 2 match 21-15, 15-21, 15-12.  Gomez and Neria then clinched the season tiebreaker over BC with a come-from-behind win at no. 4, 15-21, 21-13, 15-13. At No. 1, Jessie and Simental narrowly missed the Ventura sweep, falling 21-17, 13-21, 15-12.

With the victory, Ventura moves into a second place tie with Bakersfield with four matches remaining in the season. As mentioned, the Pirates hold the tiebreaker against BC by virtue of their 4-1 win Friday against the renegades 3-2 victory earlier in the year.

The Pirates return to the beach on Friday April 13 playing at Santa Monica against the host Corsairs and against Victor Valley. 

Ventura 5, Antelope Valley 0

1. Braxton Jessie/Janessa Simental (VC) def. Heather Emory/Jasmine Dixon (AVC), 11-21, 21-19, 19-17
2. Armonee Hunter/Kasie Spencer (VC) def. Elizabeth Perez/Melissa Lee (AVC) 21-14, 21-8
3. Taylor Benitez-Fanslow/Shea Mckeown (VC) def. Bella Bradford/Bailey Green (AVC) 21-15, 21-8
4. Sofia Gomez/Jordan Neria (VC) def. Taylor Williams/Alexandria Peacon (AVC), 21-9, 21-17
5. Carina Cates/Danielle Garcia (VC) def. Bailey Whiteford/Darby Alva (AVC), 21-15, 21-9 

Ventura 4, Bakersfield 1

1. Braxton Jessie/Janessa Simental (VC) lost to Alex Paris/Sarah Armendariz  (BC), 21-17, 13-21, 15-12
2. Armonee Hunter/Kasie Spencer (VC) def. Brooke Horack/Jourdan Muro (BC), 21-15, 15-21, 15-12
3. Taylor Benitez-Fanslow/Shea Mckeown (VC) def. Reece Stevenson/Haley Sanchez (BC), 21-16, 16-21, 15-5
4. Sofia Gomez/Jordan Neria (VC) def. Rachel Hoover/Caitlyn Foreman (BC), 15-21, 21-13, 15-13
5. Carina Cates/Danielle Garcia (VC) def. Shyanne Baez/Bianca Logsdon (BC), 21-11, 21-6