Using a solid performance both offensively and defensively, the Pirate volleyball team swept past Pasadena City College Wednesday evening at the Athletic Event Center, 25-21, 25-18, 25-23. Kayla Murdoch led the offense with 17 kills and a .406 hitting percentage while Nevada Knowles handed out 27 assists and recorded 10 kills. Katey Mulville and Alexandria Donnelly each had three blocks and Autumn Rojelio Moreno led the defense with 13 digs.
The Pirates (3-0) took the early lead against PCC, posting an 8-5 advantage early in the first set. VC led 12-9 before the Lancers came back to hold a 16-13 margin, forcing a Ventura timeout. VC came back winning six of the next seven points to reassert control, including a pair of big hits from Murdoch. Ventura claimed the first set by a final count of 25-21.
The second set was close early on as Pasadena (2-1) maintained a 1-point deficit, 13-12, halfway through. Powered by a two winners from Murdoch sandwiched around a kill by Knowles, VC opened up a 17-13 lead.A block by Mulville and Carter pushed the edge to five points, 19-14, and the Lancers called a timeout trailing Ventura 22-17. Kylie Ibbotson scored on a tip, Knowles recorded a kill, and Murdoch blocked a PCC hit for a winner to clinch the second set, 25-18.
VB��: Kylie Ibbotson with a floater, Knowles with a kill and Murdoch with a block and @VCVolleyball takes set 2 over @PCCAthletics, 25-18. Pirates lead match 2-0. @vcscolleges @ventura_college @TheAcornSports @cccwvca pic.twitter.com/AYPkYp8gyQ
— VCPirateAthletics (@VCAthletics) September 1, 2022
Mulville hit a winner and Carter served an ace, followed by a kill from Murdoch to help Ventura to a 12-5 advantage in the third set. VC pushed the lead to 15-8 before Pasadena answered with four straight winners, forcing a Pirate timeout. The Lancers continued the fight, taking a lead of 21-19 before a sideout and a kill in the middle from Mulville tied the score. Mulville and Murdoch followed with big hits at the net with assists from Knowles to set up match point for Ventura. Ibbotson had a block at the net on the next point to clinch the sweep for VC.
VB��: break out the ��! Kylie Ibbotson with a block for the winner at #MatchPoint. @VCVolleyball defeats @PCCAthletics 25-21, 25-18, 25-23 to move to 3-0 on the season. #GoPiratesGo @ventura_college @vcscolleges @TheAcornSports @cccwvca pic.twitter.com/sGRcx0p4JM
— VCPirateAthletics (@VCAthletics) September 1, 2022
Mulville was an efficient 6-8 on kill chances at the net for a .750 hitting percentage while Donnelly was 3-4 in her chances. Ibbotson registered seven winners in the match and had seven digs and two blocks defensively. Murdoch also had a pair of blocks.
VC concluded their season-opening five-match homestand on Friday Sept. 2, hosting the VC Pirate Quad. Ventura will take on Golden West at 2:00 pm before playing San Diego Mesa at 5:00 pm with both contests in the AEC.