The No. 6-ranked VC volleyball team played a solid match Wednesday at the Athletic Event Center, sweeping past Saddleback 25-13, 25-14, 25-13. Kylie Ibbotson led the balanced attack with nine kills and Kayla Murdoch had eight winners while hitting .667. Brianna Morrison had six kills while hitting .600 to go along with four blocks, two solo. Ashley Johnson handed out 15 assists with seven service aces and Autumn Rojelio recorded 19 digs to lead the defensive effort for Ventura (7-1).
The Pirates jumped out early with a block by Morrison and Murdoch, a pair of kills by Murdoch, an ace from Johnson and another winner from Ibbotson, taking a 13-6 advantage in the first set. Later, Morrison had a winner in the middle to put VC ahead 19-12 prompting a Bobcat timeout. After a serving error, Ventura forced a sideout and Johnson took care of the rest on serve. The freshman started five consecutive points, the final on with an ace, as VC captured the first set 25-13.
Johnson, Ibbotson and Murdoch all hit winners early in the second set as the Pirates raced out to a 6-1 lead. Alba Romanos Gracia and Murdoch followed with two more kills and VC built its advantage to 14-8 midway through the set. Johnson, who was almost perfect on serve for the match leading Ventura to score on 17 of 19 attempts, served VC to a 20-10 margin with help from an unreturnable Murdoch kill in the middle and a pair of winners from Ibbotson. Talia Behrens had the set-winner at the net as VC gained full control of the match, 25-14.
Ibbotson and Morrison each recorded kills in the third set as Ventura began to pull away from the Bobcats, 11-6. Behrens hit another winner at the net for a 14-8 advantage and Rojelio was strong on serve, helping build a double-digit lead, 19-8. Jocelyn Montoya served an ace on match point for the third-set win, 25-13, completing the Pirate sweep.
The win was a demonstration of the Pirates' depth, as well, as 14 different players saw action.
VC next hosts Santa Monica on Friday Sept. 15. The match is set to begin at 6:00 pm at the Athletic Event Center.