While the cold wind and rainy days are rare at the beach in Ventura, they do occasionally occur. When they do, the Pirates battle the elements along with their opponents, just as they did Friday to open the 2019 season. And the Ventura College beach volleyball team opened the year wit a pair of victories over visiting Bakersfield and Palomar at the Harbor Cove Courts at the Ventura Marina. VC (2-0) swept the Renegades 5-0 before edging the Comets 3-2. Morgan Gallagher and Jordan Neria led the charge with a pair of victories at the No. 3 slot, allowing just 40 points total in four sets. Shantalle Ruiz and Kasie Spencer, and Kambria Dowling and Kayla Hosch each posted two victories at Nos. 2 and 5, respectively.
In the opener, Ventura swept Western State Conference foe Bakersfield in a non-conference contest. Raphaella Rosales and Vanessa Ihrke recorded the win at No. 1, 21-10, 21-14 while Ruiz and Spencer were victorious at No. 2, 13 and 19. Gallagher and Neria triumphed at No. 3 21-14, 21-16, while Brooklyn Wallet and Faith Mackie posted the 21-13, 21-15 win. Dowling and Hosch finished things off at No. 5, 21-13, 21-19.
The skies opened up during the Pirates' second match of the day, but VC was able to prevail over Palomar, 3-2. Gallagher and Neria ran away with their match at No. 3, 21-4, 21-12, and Dowling and Hosch recorded a point at No. 5, 13 and 16. Ruiz and Spencer registered Ventura's third point of the match with a 26-24, 21-13 win at No. 2. Rosales and Ihrke ay No. 1, and Wallet and Mackie at No. 4 both lost close, three-set decisions.
Ventura will next head to Northridge for the Ramon Calderon Cup on Friday Feb. 22. VC plays Cal State Northridge at 11:00 am before battling Long Beach City College at 12;30 pm.
Ventura 5, Bakersfield 0
1. Raphaella Rosales/Vanessa Ihrke (VC) def. P. Zepada/M. Townson (BC), 21-10, 21-14
2. Shantalle Ruiz/Kasie Spencer (VC) def. J. Nerante/L. Camarillo (BC), 21-13, 21-19
3. Morgan Gallagher/Jordan Neria (VC) def. J. Strode/K. Garcia (BC), 21-14, 21-16
4. Brooklyn Wallet/Faith Mackie (VC) def. S. Lopez/M. Villalvazo (BC), 21-13, 21-15
5. Kambria Dowling/Kayla Hosch (VC) def. P. Canchan/R. Bayne (BC), 21-13, 21-19
Ventura 3, Palomar 2
1. Raphaella Rosales/Vanessa Ihrke (VC) lost to M. Seiler/N. Ramos (PC), 21-15, 17-21, 15-13
2. Shantalle Ruiz/Kasie Spencer (VC) def. A. Sendejos/N. Bautista (PC), 26-24, 21-13
3. Morgan Gallagher/Jordan Neria (VC) def. A. Amador/Z. Brown (PC), 21-4, 21-12
4. Brooklyn Wallet/Faith Mackie (VC) lost to A. Vannoy/C. Warner (PC), 9-21, 21-13, 15-13
5. Kambria Dowling/Kayla Hosch (VC) def. L. Kerner/E. Lopp (PC), 21-13, 21-16