VOLLEYBALL: The Ventura College volleyball team went the distance Wednesday night against Los Anegels Mission College at the Athletic Event center. Unfortunately, the Eagles came out on top, as VC dropped the five-set marathon, 21-25, 25-15, 16-25, 25-20, 12-15. Jasmine Perez had five aces and 20 digs for the Pirates while Dana Cleavenger handed out 46 assists. Sydney Morris and Makeda Pelle recorded 14 and 10 kills, respectively. It is the second time this season that Mission has prevailed over Ventura in five sets.
The Pirates came out on fire, racing to a 7-1 lead early in the first set. Gemma Stoll had two aces during the initial run for VC. The Eagles countered, however, going on a 13-4 run midway through the set to take an 18-16 advantage. Kills by Morris and Kirra Drury temporarily held of LA Mission, but the Eagles took the opener 25-21.
The second set was even early on, but the Pirates slowly took control midway through. Stoll served VC to a 15-10 advantage and Abigail Gallegos had a big hit to make the score 18-12. A Pelle hit and a Stoll block made the score 20-15, and Gallegos had two more kills to put the Pirates ahead by eight points. Perez served Ventura to the 25-15 win.
The Pirates took a 4-1 lead to begin the third set before the wheels came off. Mission went on an 11-0 run and never looked back, taking the set 25-16.
With their backs up against the wall, Ventura responded in the fourth set. VC took an early 7-2 edge, and maintained a 2-4 point lead throughout. Makenzie Neilan aced the Pirates to a 20-13 lead, and Perez aced the advantage to 22-15. Kills by Gallegos and Morris helped VC take the set 25-20.
The Eagles began the deciding set on a 5-1 roll before a Drury hit ended the run. But the early deficit was too much to overcome for the Pirates, as they never were able to even the score, dropping the set 15-12.
Ventura will travel to San Luis Obispo to take on Cuesta on Friday Nov. 1 before returning home to take on Los Angeles Pierce College on Wednesday Nov. 6.