VC freshman Armonee Hunter had 17 kills in two matches as the Pirate volleyball team ran its record to 9-2 with wins over Santa Monica and Fullerton at the VC Pirate Classic Quad Friday.
With every victory confidence grows, and when the confidence grows, play gets stronger, resulting in more success. The Pirate volleyball team is in a positive spin, following up their five-set thriller at Pasadena Wednesday with a pair of non-conference victories Friday at the Athletic Event Center. VC defeated Santa Monica 3-0, and Fullerton 3-1 to move to 9-2 on the season. Armonee Hunter and Paris Dosch led the balanced Ventura attack with 17 kills in the two matches.
Ventura 3, Santa Monica 0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-15)
The Pirates began the quad with a sweep over the Corsairs. After coming from behind to take the first set 25-22, the Pirates found themselves behind again, 18-13. Tori Hiott served Ventura to three straight points, and Brittney Mukhar aced the Pirates to a one point deficit, 19-18. Hunter killed two of the final three points of the set, as VC prevailed 25-21.
The Pirates jumped out to a 13-6 lead in the third set. A big dig from Cassandra Lacanilao was followed by a kill by Dosch off of Mikayla Spears' quick set to give Ventura a 19-9 advantage. A Hiott kill and Dosch block made the score 21-10 before Spears scored on a pair of tips to close the match, 25-15.
Dosch led the way with 11 kills, two digs and three aces while Hiott recorded nine kills with eight digs and an ace. Hunter also had nine kills and Mukhar scored six kills with eight digs, two blocks and an ace. Spears handed out 35 assists while compiling eight digs and a pair of service aces and Lacanilao had 18 digs.
Ventura 3, Fullerton 1 (25-19, 25-18, 21-25, 25-22)
VC had their biggest win of the season over the state's 19th ranked Fullerton Hornets. After taking the opener 25-19, the Pirates built a big lead in the second set. Ahead 21-16, Hunter had two big blocks on the ensuing point, which was finished off by a Mukhar kill. Lacanilao served the final three points of the set as VC was victorious, 25-18.
The third set remained close most of the way, with the Hornets, who entered the match ranked No. 12 in Southern California, holding a 1-2 point advantage. Fullerton pulled away late to take it, 25-21.
Ventura was down 10-8 in the fourth set before reeling off five straight points. Fullerton managed to tie the score at 16-16, and took a 20-18 lead before Mukhar started the Pirate comeback with an ace. VC took the lead for good, 21-20, on a point that included a solid dig from Lacanilao and two blocks from Hunter before a Fullerton attack ended up in the net. Another Mukhar ace added to the lead. Hiott's kill made it 23-21 and the match ended on a wide attack by the Hornets.
Mukhar had another outstanding all-around game with 10 kills, 13 digs and four aces. Hunter had eight kills, two digs, two blocks and an ace and Hiott recorded seven kills and six digs. Dosch had six kills, four digs and two aces. Lacanilao led the defense with 35 digs and two aces and Spears dished out 32 assists with 11 digs.
Ventura heads to West Los Angeles on Friday Sept. 25 before returning home to face Antelope Valley on Wednesday Sept. 30.
