The Pirates' beach volleyball team opened their 2024 campaign with a pair of 5-0 victories in Palm Desert. VC (2-0) defeated Fullerton without dropping a set before shutting out host College of the Desert, winning 10 of 11 sets against the Roadrunners. Kayla Murdoch and Autumn Rojelio, Bryce Swain and Lily Hazzard, and Gracie Piro and Liz Schalde all produced a pair of sweeps on the first day of the new season.
In the opener, the Pirates easily handled the Hornets with four sweeps and a forfeit win at No. 5. Murdoch and Rojelio, State Final Four qualifiers a year ago, started out with a strong 21-6, 21-9 win at No. 1 and Piro and Schalde raced to a 21-1, 21-10 triumph at No. 4. Alba Romanos Gracia and Kylie Ibbotson captured their No. 2 match 21-12, 21-13 while Swain and Hazzard compiled a 21-14, 21-3 sweep in the No. 3 match.
Against Desert, the Pirates continued their dominance. Swain and Hazzard won the No. 3 match 21-12, 21-7 and Murdoch and Rojelio produced a 21-12, 21-8 victory in the match at the top of the docket. Skylar Rutherford and Makena Schaumloeffel won a 21-13, 21-8 decision in the No. 5 slot while Piro and Schalde captured the No. 4 match, 21-8, 21-18. Romanos Gracia and Ibbotson finished off the sweep with a come-from-behind 18-21, 21-11, 15-8 triumph in the No. 2 match.
The Pirates next travel to Huntington Beach on Thursday Feb. 15 to take on Golden West and Cerritos.
Ventura 5, Fullerton 0
1. Kayla Murdoch/Autumn Rojelio (VC) def. Sofia Chua/Amelia Hahs (FC), 21-6, 21-9
2. Alba Romanos Gracia/Kylie Ibbotson (VC) def. Angie Alvarado/Arianna Islas (FC), 21-12, 21-13
3. Bryce Swain/Lily Hazzard (VC) def. Emily Finnegan/Mariah Williams (FC), 21-14, 21-3
4. Gracie Piro/Liz Schalde (VC) def. Kristal Mendoza/Brianna Mendez (FC), 21-1, 21-10
5. Skylar Rutherford/Makena Schaumloeffel(VC) def. (FC), 21-0, 21-0, Forfeit
Ventura 5, Desert 0
1. Kayla Murdoch/Autumn Rojelio (VC) def. Melanie Hernandez/Bella Branconier (CoD), 21-12, 21-8
2. Alba Romanos Gracia/Kylie Ibbotson (VC) def. Sarah Nieto/Stacie Alexander (CoD), 18-21, 21-11, 15-8
3. Bryce Swain/Lily Hazzard (VC) def. Liana Whitley/Ashley Amidei (CoD), 21-12, 21-7
4. Gracie Piro/Liz Schalde (VC) def. Alexia Siani-Rader/Ashley Estrada (CoD), 21-8, 21-18
5. Skylar Rutherford/Makena Schaumloeffel(VC) def. Sophia Gilbert/Savannah Bush (CoD), 21-13, 21-8