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Beach VB Battles Against NAIA Schools

The Pirates' beach volleyball team stepped up the competition Friday, traveling to Carlsbad to take on four-year NAIA schools Life Pacific and St. Katherine. Autumn Rojelio and Kayla Murdoch won their No. 1 match against Life Pacific, as did Alba Romanos Gracia and Kylie Ibbotson at No. 2 in VC's narrow 3-2 loss. VC also took three matches to a third and deciding set against St. Katherine before falling 5-0.

Pirate sophomore Kayla Murdoch hits a winner in VC's match up with University of St. Katherine Friday in Carlsbad. Despite a pair of losses against two four-year schools, the Pirates won a pair of match-ups and took five others the distance. (photo by Samantha Calisto)
Pirate sophomore Kayla Murdoch hits a winner in VC's match up with University of St. Katherine Friday in Carlsbad. Despite a pair of losses against two four-year schools, the Pirates won a pair of match-ups and took five others the distance. (photo by Samantha Calisto)
February 9, 2024

The Pirates' beach volleyball team stepped up the competition Friday, traveling to Carlsbad to take on four-year NAIA schools Life Pacific and St. Katherine. Autumn Rojelio and Kayla Murdoch won their No. 1 match against Life Pacific, as did Alba Romanos Gracia and Kylie Ibbotson at No. 2 in VC's narrow 3-2 loss. VC also took three matches to a third and deciding set against St. Katherine before falling 5-0.

In the first match of the day, VC nearly upset Life Pacific University, an NAIA school from San Dimas, falling 3-2. Rojelio and Murdoch won their No. 1 match easily, 21-11, 21-10, and Romanos Gracia and Ibbotson swept past their opponents at No. 2, 21-13, 21-15. Bryce Swain and Lily Hazzard went ahead 21-11 in the first set before dropping their No. 3 slot 21-17, 15-10 in the second and third sets, respectively. Meanwhile, Makena Schaumloeffel and Liz Schalde dropped a close 23-21 decision in set one before tying the match 21-11 in the second, ultimately falling in the third 15-9 at No. 5.

In the nightcap, Ventura battled hard, but fell 5-0 to the University of St. Katherine, another four-year NAIA program. Murdoch and Rojelio took their opponents at No. 1 to three sets, narrowly falling 22-20, 14-21, 15-13, while Romanos Gracia and Ibbotson also went to the deciding set at No. 2, dropping a 21-15, 17-21, 15-10 decision. Swain and Hazzard held an early lead with a 23-21 win in the opening set before falling in the final two, 21-19, 15-12, respectively, in the No. 3 slot. In the No. 4 match, Gracie Piro and Gabby Raines were swept in razor-thin fashion, 21-19, 28-26.

The Pirates next travel to Huntington Beach on Thursday Feb. 15 to take on Golden West and Cerritos.

Ventura 2, Life Pacific 3

1. Kayla Murdoch/Autumn Rojelio (VC) def. LPU 1s, 21-11, 21-10
2. Alba Romanos Gracia/Kylie Ibbotson (VC) def. LPU 2s, 21-13, 21-15
3. Bryce Swain/Lily Hazzard (VC) lost to LPU 3s, 11-21, 21-17, 15-10
4. Gracie Piro/Gabby Raines (VC) lost to LPU 4s, 21-18, 21-19
5. Makena Schaumloeffel/Liz Schalde (VC) lost to LPU 5s, 23-21, 11-21, 15-9

6. Skylar Rutherford/Olivia Brown (VC) def. LPU 6s, 21-19, 21-10

Ventura 0, St. Katherine 5

1. Kayla Murdoch/Autumn Rojelio (VC) lost to Alexcis Morris and Anne Mayfield  (USK), 22-20, 14-21, 15-13
2. Alba Romanos Gracia/Kylie Ibbotson (VC) lost to Natalie Hill and Katie Alexander (USK), 21-15, 17-21, 15-10
3. Bryce Swain/Lily Hazzard (VC) lost to Denisse Sanchez and Bailey Combs (USK), 21-23, 21-19, 15-12
4. Gracie Piro/Gabby Raines (VC) lost to Makenzie Nutting and Gabriella Alexander (USK), 21-19, 28-26
5. Skylar Rutherford/Liz Schalde (VC) lost to Emily Wilson and Camille Harvey (USK), 21-15, 21-13

6. Makena Schaumloeffel/Olivia Brown (VC) lost to USK 6s, 21-12, 21-13