Beach Volleyball Opens Season With Two Wins

The VC beach volleyball team opened its' Covid-shortened 2021 season with a pair of victories at the Ventura Harbor Courts. The Pirates defeated Moorpark in the first match of the day before edging Mt. San Antonio 3-2 in the second. Ventura's Nos. 1, 3 and 5 pairs all won two matches on the day to propel the team to the pair of wins.

In the opener, Ventura (2-0) defeated cross-county rival Moorpark in a match that was closer than the final 4-1 score. The Pirates' No. 5 pair of Savannah Marchese and Tatum Teel was the only VC duo to win its first set, but they were extended to three sets in the 21-14, 19-21, 15-7 victory. VC's No. 1 pair of Alexis Baloyo and Amelie Zubia dropped their opener 21-14 before coming back to win 23-21 and 15-10.  Meanwhile, Tatiana Rodriguez and Darynne Bickers fell in the opening set 22-20 before righting the ship with 21-18, 15-13 wins at the No. 3 slot. At No. 4, Amaris Garcia and Bethany Bird dropped the first set 21-19 before coming back with wins of 21-16 and 17-15 to claim the point.

The Pirates also prevailed in their second match of the day, 3-2 over Mt. San Antonio College. Marchese and Teel won in straight sets at No. 5, 21-17 and 21-11 while Rodriguez and Bickers claimed No. 3, 21-10, 21-16. The Pirates' No. 1 team of Baloyo and Zubia came from behind to clinch the match, 16-21, 21-17, 15-8.  VC's No. 2 team of Monica Montoya and Madelyn Grajeda lost in three sets, 22-20, 19-21, 15-9 while Garcia and Bird also fell in three, 18-21, 21-12, 15-12 at No. 4.

The Pirates return to action on Friday May 7 against the same two teams, Moorpark and Mt. San Antonio, at the Ventura Harbor Courts. The matches will be hosted by Moorpark College. 

Ventura 4, Moorpark 1

1. Alexis Baloyo/Amelie Zubia (VC) def. Laba/Karamanukyan (MC), 14-21, 23-21, 15-10
2. Monica Montoya/Madelyn Grajeda (VC) lost to Alex/Tessa (MC), 21-13, 21-14
3. Tatiana Rodriguez/Darynne Bickers (VC) def. Perskins/Esseff (MC), 20-22, 21-18, 15-13
4. Amaris Garcia/Bethany Bird (VC) def. Mobly/Majus (MC), 19-21, 21-16, 17-15
5. Savannah Marchese/Tatum Teel (VC) def. Canning/Stinson (MC), 21-14, 19-21, 15-7

Ventura 3, Mt. San Antonio 2

1. Alexis Baloyo/Amelie Zubia (VC) def. Jay Jaramillo/Daniela Serna (MtSAC), 16-21, 21-17, 15-8 
2. Monica Montoya/Madelyn Grajeda (VC) lost to Natalie Caravantes/Alyssa Aleman (MtSAC), 22-20, 19-21, 15-9
3. Tatiana Rodriguez/Darynne Bickers (VC) def. Alexandra Euston/Gaby Vatkin (MtSAC), 21-10, 21-16
4. Amaris Garcia/Bethany Bird (VC) lost to Elizabeth Thomas/Bristol Christelman (MtSAC), 21-10, 21-16
5. Savannah Marchese/Tatum Teel (VC) def. Diana Pelcastre/Jordyn Sanchez (MtSAC), 21-17, 21-11