After a slow start, the Pirate volleyball team poured it on late as VC swept past Cuesta 27-25, 25-12, 25-14 Friday evening at the Athletic Event Center. Kayla Murdoch was dominant with 18 kills and a .517 hitting percentage and Talia Behrens recorded eight winners at the net. Ashley Johnson handed out 28 assists and Autumn Rojelio turned in 10 digs as Johnson added eight.
In a surprisingly close first set, the Pirates and Cougars were tied at 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. VC had a set-point ahead 24-23 and Cuesta led 25-24 before the Pirates won the final three points to take the set.Murdoch served the final two winners for Ventura.
Aces were wild for VC in the second set as they scored four of the first dozen points on unreturned serves. Makena Schaumloeffel hit the first ace as she led VC to a 4-0 advantage early and Rojelio had back-to-back aces for a 7-2 margin. Johnson hit the fourth ace of the set to extend the lead to 12-5. Bryce Swain hit a back-row kill to close out the set 25-12 for the Pirates.
Ventura went to Murdoch early and often in the final set as the sophomore had three straight winners leading to a 5-0 Pirate lead early. Murdoch hit another winner and Brianna Morrison won a duel at the net to expand the lead to 8-2, and Kylie Ibbotson had a pair of winners to help VC move ahead 19-9. Gracie Piro hit an ace to set up match-point and served the Pirates to the clincher, 25-14 in the third set.
Ibbotson and Schaumloeffel had seven and six kills, respectively, and Morrison recorded five winners. Liz Schalde handed out 10 assists in the VC victory.
Ventura next plays at Santa Barbara on Friday Nov. 3, playing to reclaim a share of the lead in the Western State Conference North Division. the match is set to begin at 6:00 pm at the SBCC Sports Pavilion.