Beach Volleyball Splits Final Day of Team Competition

The Pirates' beach volleyball team split a pair of matches Friday to finish the team season at 7-1, the best record among the competing Western State Conference teams.
The Pirates' beach volleyball team split a pair of matches Friday to finish the team season at 7-1, the best record among the competing Western State Conference teams.

The Pirate beach volleyball team split a pair of matches at the Harbor Cove Courts Friday, completing the team competition portion of their Covid-shortened schedule. VC dropped a 4-1 decision to Moorpark before defeating Bakersfield 4-1 in the finale. With the win, Ventura finished 7-1 on the year, the best record among Western State Conference teams competing, although there is no official championship this season.

The opener was another close match with the Pirates' cross-county rivals. Monica Montoya and Madelyn Grajeda earned VC's only point with a 22-20, 18-21, 15-11 win at No. 3.  Meanwhile, Tatiana Rodriguez and Darynne Bickers came from behind to force a third set before falling, 13-21, 21-13, 15-11 at No. 2.  In the No. 1 slot, Ventura's Alexis Baloyo and Amelie Zubia also came back after dropping the first set, only to fall in the third, 21-18, 16-21, 15-11.

In the season finale, the Pirates secured the conference's best mark with a 4-1 win over Bakersfield. Montoya and Grejada earned their second point of the day with a 21-18, 21-9 win at No. 3. Baloyo and Zubia, along with Amaris Garcia and Bethany Bird each won in straight sets at Nos. 1 and 4, respectively, while Rodriguez and Bickers came back after dropping the initial set to win in three, 15-21, 21-19, 15-7. The No. 5 slot was close as Savannah Marchese and Tatum Teel dropped a heartbreaker 21-15, 19-21, 15-12 in the final match of the day.

The Pirates will finish the season on Friday May 28 with a WSC pairs tournament at the Harbor Cove Courts at the Ventura Marina.

Ventura 1, Moorpark 4

1. Alexis Baloyo/Amelie Zubia (VC) lost to MC #1, 21-18, 16-21, 15-11
2. Tatiana Rodriguez/Darynne Bickers (VC) lost to MC #2, 13-21, 21-13, 15-11
3. Monica Montoya/Madelyn Grajeda (VC) def. MC #3, 22-20, 18-21, 15-11
4. Amaris Garcia/Bethany Bird (VC) lost to MC #4, 21-8, 21-15
5. Savannah Marchese/Tatum Teel (VC) lost to MC #5, 21-15, 21-10

Ventura 4, Bakersfield 1

1. Alexis Baloyo/Amelie Zubia (VC) def. BC #1, 21-12, 21-19
2. Tatiana Rodriguez/Darynne Bickers (VC) def. BC #2, 15-21, 21-19, 15-7
3. Monica Montoya/Madelyn Grajeda (VC) def. BC #3, 21-18, 21-9
4. Amaris Garcia/Bethany Bird (VC) def. BC #4, 21-14, 21-8
5. Savannah Marchese/Tatum Teel (VC) lost to BC #5, 21-15, 19-21, 15-12