The VC beach volleyball team had three pairs recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association with their Top Flight Awards announced last month. The Pirates' No. 1 pair of Kayla Murdoch and Autumn Rojelio Moreno was recognized along with the Nos. 2 and 3 duos of Ashley Johnson and Olivia Sletten and Averi Carter and Katey Mulville, respectively.
The Top Flight program, now in its fifth year, recognizes beach pairs who compete in at least 15 matches together at a specific flight and win at least 75% of their matches. This year, 54 pairs representing 32 schools—from all three NCAA divisions, NAIA and Two Year Colleges—are Top Flight.
Murdoch (Thousand Oaks HS) and Rojelio (Buena HS), both freshmen, were the Pirates' top pair all season long. The finished the year with a 20-6 mark in dual matches and won another 10 matches against three defeats in Western State Conference, Southern California Regional, and State Pairs tournament play. The were the runners-up in the WSC, advanced to the SoCal and CCCAA State Final Fours.
Johnson (Nordhoff HS) and Sletten (Ventura HS) were perhaps the best No. 2 team in the state with a 22-2 dual match record. The two first year players also went 10-3 in tournament play to finish in third in the WSC, second in SoCal, and tied for fifth at the State Championships.
Carter (Foothill Tech HS) and Mulville (Oxnard HS), meanwhile, also had a stellar season posting a 21-4 record in dual matches and a 5-5 mark in tournament play. The sophomores claimed fifth place in the WSC and reached the quarterfinal round of the SoCal and CCCAA State Tournaments.
The Ventura College beach volleyball team had its best season ever in 2023, finishing 22-3-1 in dual matches and claiming the WSC crown. They advanced to the CCCAA State Team Championships for the first time ever, falling in the state finals in a razor-close five-set decision.