Volleyball sweeps past Canyons

The VC volleyball team fired on all cylinders Friday in sweeping past College of the Canyons at the Athletic Event Center, 25-10, 25-13, 26-24. The Pirates committed just 12 hitting errors in the match, hitting a solid .315 as a team, and recorded 14 service aces in the three sets. Josephine Rausch led the offense with 10 kills and Daphne Raymond had eight winners with a .438 hitting percentage. Valeria Ibarra turned in 20 assists and Monaye Ramessar hit six service aces against the Cougars.

Ventura (4-4) raced out to the early lead, and Taylor Lane's winner gave the Pirates a commanding 18-7 edge. Shai Daniels hit an ace to set up set point, 24-9, and Rausch hit the kill to claim the 25-10 set win.

The Pirates were dominant again in the second set, posting leads of 6-1 and 8-2. The Cougars tried to claw back into the match, pulling to within 15-7, but VC held them off. Jocelyn Alfar had a winner for an 18-9 advantage and Ramessar had two aces for a 22-12 score. Addison Olson recorded a big kill, and Ramessar hit another ace to help Ventura claim the set, 25-13.

Canyons kept things closer in the third set, jumping out to a 3-1 lead. Ramessar's ace tied the game at 3-3, and Callie Cahill had a kill for a 6-5 VC lead. Olson's winner put the Pirates ahead 8-5, and Rausch scored for a 15-11 margin. Daniels recorded an ace to push Ventura to a 17-11 margin before COC scored five of the next six points. Raymond had a block to maintain a 20-18 lead, and Madison Mierau's winner made it 22-20.  The Cougars then tied the game at 22,23 and 24 before a Raymond winner and a Olson block sealed the match with a 26-24 set win.

Daniels had 18 digs while Lane and Olson each recorded a pair of blocks to lead the defensive effort.  Olson also contributed nine kills and Mierau had a solid night with seven winners. Ramessar handed out 15 assists.

Ventura next hosts Antelope Valley on Wednesday Sept. 17. the match is set to begin at 6:00 pm at the AEC.