The VC Athletic Department recognized its Outstanding Sophomore Student Athletes at its annual Hall of Fame Induction and Student Athlete Recognition Banquet on May 5. Women's volleyball and beach volleyball All-American Kayla Murdoch and men's swimming and diving All-American Ayden Jacobus were honored at the banquet and will represent Ventura College Athletics at the Ventura County Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet on June 2 in Camarillo.
Jacobus, was a two-time All-American diver for the Pirates. He claimed the gold medal in the 3m diving event at the 2024 3C2A State Championships and won the silver in the 1m diving at the same meet. The Ventura High School alumnus finished ninth and sixth, respectively in the two events at the 2023 3C2A State Championships. Jacobus claimed the WSC and Southern California crowns in both the 3m and 1m diving events as a sophomore and won the WSC titles in both events his freshman season.
Murdoch, a Thousand Oaks High School product, was a two-time first team AVCA All-American for indoor volleyball. She was the Western State Conference North Division Player of the Year in 2023 and a first team All-WSC selection as a freshman. She set team single-season and career records for total kills and was also listed among state leaders in kills per set and points per set both seasons. She helped lead VC to a combined 44-6 record over her two years, the second-best two -year span in program history, and to a pair of WSC North championships. Her indoor career culminated in the Pirates' first 3C2A State Tournament appearance since 2000.
On the beach, Murdoch was equally as impressive before an injury cut short her sophomore season. Paired with teammate Autumn Rojelio, Murdoch played on Ventura's No. 1 pair for two seasons compiling an overall record of 43-12. She helped lead the Pirates to a combined 41-10-1 dual mark and back-to-back WSC titles. Ventura finished the 2023 season as the 3C2A State Runner-Up. Additionally, she and Rojelio were awarded Top-Flight status by the AVCA both seasons and were WSC runners-up and advanced to the SoCal and State Final Fours in 2023.
Jacobus is presently undecided on where he will transfer while Murdoch has signed with NCAA Division I to play indoor and beach volleyball at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
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Kayla Murdoch |
Ayden Jacobus |
