On the first day of the CCCAA State Beach Volleyball Championships, the Pirate team of Janessa Simental and Madison Wright won their first match of the day to advance to the Sweet 16 while Sariah Flores and Armonee Hunter won two matches, moving into the state quarterfinals to be held Sunday. VC also had two more pairs compete Saturday at West Valley College in Saratoga on day one of the championships.
The Pirates began the day with four of the 32 pairs in the draw at the championships. Tori Hiott and Paris Dosch took on a duo from Orange Coast College, and after falling in the first set, 22-20, they came back to easily win the second 21-9, forcing the deciding third set. Unfortunately, they lost the third, 15-10, ending their season.
VC's No. 2 team of Mikayla Spears and Brianna Finch battled with a team from Cypress in the first round, falling 21-13, 21-16.
Simental and Wright faced opponents from Santa Ana. They narrowly lost the opening set 21-19 before battling back in the second, 21-16. VC's No. 4 duo then won the third set 15-9 to move into the round of 16. In their next match against a team from Long Beach, they fell to defeat 21-10, 21-12.
Flores and Hunter,VC's No. 3 pair, won their first set against a team from El Camino, 21-16. They fell in the second set 21-10 before coming back and taking the match 15-8 in the third set. In the sweet 16, The Pirate duo faced a team from Irvine Valley. After dropping the first set 21-15, they came back 21-10 in the second to force the third. Flores and Hunter moved on to the state quarterfinals with a 15-7 win in the third set.
The competition continues on Sunday May 7 at West Valley College in Saratoga. Flores and Hunter will begin their quarterfinal match at 10:00 am.