The Ventura College beach volleyball team dropped a pair of non-conference matches Friday at El Camino College. The Pirates (4-4) were swept by the host Warriors before losing a tight 3-2 decision to Mt. San Antonio. Jordan Neria and Morgan Gallagher, and Faith Mackie and Brooklyn Wallet posted victories for VC in the match with the Mounties.
Ventura struggled to gain traction against the highly-touted Warriors in the opener. El Camino, which had swept four previous opponents at home this season, won 2-0 at Nos. 1, 2, and 5 to clinch the match early. Wallet and Mackie captured their first set at No. 4, 22-20, before falling in the second two, 21-17, 15-11, while Shantalle Ruiz and Kasie Spencer pushed the No. 3 match to the limit with a second-set 21-15 win.
The Pirates may have let the match against the Mounties slip away, falling 3-2. Mt. SAC took an early 1-0 lead with their win at No. 5 before Mackie and Wallet captured the No. 4 slot with a come-from-behind 18-21, 21-11, 15-10 win. At No. 3, Spencer and Ruiz split the first two sets, 17-21, 21-16, and were ahead in the third before falling 24-22 giving the Mounties a 2-1 edge. Neria and Gallagher took an early lead at No. 2 with a 21-19 set one triumph before falling 21-17 in the second. In the third set, VC once again had a lead before falling 15-12. Raphaella Rosales and Vanessa Ihrke extended their No. 1 match to three sets before falling, 21-12, 16-21, 15-13.
Ventura opens Western State Conference play on Friday March 15 at the Harbor Cove Courts at the Ventura Marina, taking on Bakersfield and Moorpark in matches hosted by the Raiders. Play against the Renegades is scheduled to begin at 10:00 am for VC.
Ventura 0, El Camino 5
1's - Raphaella Rosales/Vanessa Ihrke (VC) lost to Caitlin Donatucci/Sophia Loiola (ECC) 21-12, 21-16
2's - Morgan Gallagher/Jordan Neria (VC) lost to Kylee Glickman/Phina Leilua (ECC) 21-11, 21-10
3's - Shantalle Ruiz/Kasie Spencer (VC) lost to Jessica Jimenez/Mikayla Clark (ECC) 21-13, 15-21, 15-4
4's - Brooklyn Wallet/Faith Mackie (VC) lost to Kelly Donatucci/Jessica Villasenor (ECC) 20-22, 21-17, 15-11
5's - Kambria Dowling/Kayla Hosch (VC) lost to Jordyn Bonitz/Jocelyn Lacroix (ECC) 21-12, 21-13
Ventura 2, Mt. San Antonio 3
1's - Rosales/Ihrke (VC) lost to Juliana Gomez/Samantha Neely (MtSAC) 21-12, 16-21, 15-13
2's - Gallagher/Neria (VC) def. Malia Carr/Shaiann Palos (MtSAC) 21-19, 17-21, 15-12
3's - Ruiz/Spencer (VC) lost to Lindsey Lane/Alysha Tullar (MtSAC) 21-17, 16-21, 24-22
4's - Wallet/Mackie (VC) def. Macy Barnes/Jessica Morse (MtSAC) 18-21, 21-11, 15-10
5's - Dowling/Hosch (VC) lost to Jocelyn Portillo/Brianda Valdez (MtSAC) 21-14, 21-19