VOLLEYBALL: If there was such a thing as a good loss, the Ventura College volleyball team has been piling them up this season. Playing their fourth match against a ranked opponent, the young Pirates battled Fullerton Friday night at the Athletic Event Center, only to come away with a 14-25, 22-25, 22-25 loss to the undefeated and No. 25-ranked Hornets. Mehgan Lambert led VC (1-6) with nine kills, five aces and 10 digs while Kirra Drury recorded eight kills. Dana Cleavenger had 26 assists in the match.
After jumping out 2-0 early, the Pirates fell behind the Hornets in the first set. VC began making a run, and appeared to have moved the score to 17-13 when a late call by the floor referee reversed a point, making the score 18-12 and squashing the Pirates' momentum. Fullerton went on to win the set, 25-14.
Ventura hung tough in the second set, and a big dig by Sydney Morris helped put Ventura ahead 5-4. The Hornets ran their lead to 9-5 before Cleavenger served VC to within 9-8, and Lambert had a pair of big hits and a tip to close the gap to 20-16. Sophomore reserve Britnee Jones had a strong hit, and Lambert's serve brought VC to within 22-21 when Gemma Stoll blocked a Fullerton hit to tie the score. Unfortunately, the Hornets pushed back and won the second set 25-22.
Fullerton took control early in the third set, posting a 9-3 lead. The Hornets were up 12-7 when Lambert served the Pirates to five straight points and a 12-12 tie. Jones had a pair of key blocks, and Drury registered a kill to put Ventura ahead 13-12. VC led as late as 22-21, but talented Fullerton team was too much on this night for VC, winning the third set 25-22.
The road does not get any easier for Ventura as they travel to No. 15 Cypress for a match on Wednesday Sept. 25. VC will travel to No. 24 Canyons on Friday Sept. 27 before returning home on Wednesday Oct. 2 against No. 14 Citrus.