In their first match at home this season, the VC Pirate volleyball team defeated the Orange Coast Pirates in straight sets Friday at the Athletic Event Center, 25-21, 25-23, 25-16. Kayla Murdoch once again led the Pirates with 12 kills while Talia Behrens and Makena Schaumloeffel each recorded seven winners. Ashley Johnson dished out 29 assists and Autumn Rojelio led the defense with 20 digs for Ventura (4-0).
VC's veterans led the way early with Murdoch and Kylie Ibbotson securing kills leading to a 7-3 Ventura advantage in the first set. Another Murdoch winner and a pair of hitting errors by OCC pushed the hosts' lead to 10-4 against Orange Coast, who entered the contest with a 3-0 early-season record. Murdoch recorded two more kills to make it 19-11 for VC before Orange Coast scored the next four points to close the gap. Behrens had a block and a kill at the net to give Ventura some breathing room 21-18 and Murdoch finished the set at 25-21 with a winner.
VB��: Murdoch with the kill at #setpoint! @VCVolleyball takes the 1st set over @OCCAthletics 25-21. pic.twitter.com/qDKdy1uNw6
— VCPirateAthletics (@VCAthletics) September 2, 2023
After trailing in the second set 4-0, Behrens and Brianna Morrison got VC on the board and Johnson's service ace made in 5-3 for Orange Coast. Gracie Piro served three straight winners to even the score at 8-8 before Behrens hit another winner for a 13-10 advantage. Morrison had a pair of winners and Johnson hit another ace for the 17-13 lead before Ventura yielded the next three points to OCC. Ibbotson countered with a block and a kill and Piro nailed a service ace to reestablish a four-point edge, 20-16. Piro's serve extended the margin to 23-16 following a timeout, and Ventura led 24-19 before taking the set 25-23.
With momentum firmly in hand, VC jumped Orange Coast n the third set, taking an 8-2 lead on kills by Murdoch and Ibbotson, and ace from Rojelio, and back-to-back blocks by Murdoch and Morrison. Ventura led 17-10 before OCC tallied three straight winners, but they were not able to get any closer. Morrison and Murdoch teamed up for a block to make it 21-14 and Piro served up an ace at match point to secure the 25-16 set victory.
Behrens led the front line with a .357 hitting percentage and Morrison hit .300 with four winners. Johnson and Schaumloeffel each had seven digs defensively while Ibbotson and Piro each recorded five digs. Murdoch, Behrens, Ibbotson and Morrison each had three block assists with Morrison and Schaumloeffel each recording a solo block at the net. Johnson and Piro each had three service aces.
Ventura next travels to San Diego Mesa on Wednesday Sept. 6. The Pirates' next home match is Wednesday Sept. 13 against Saddleback.