Playing Grossmont for the first time since the teams tangled for the 2023 3C2A state championship, the Pirates' beach volleyball team dropped a 3-2 decision against the Griffins at Moorpark on Friday. Shai Daniels and Viola Barrios claimed the No. 1 match while Skylar Rutherford and Lexi Brinkman swept for a win at No. 4. VC lost two of the three points to the Griffins in three-set matches.
The Griffins opened the scoring with a win at No. 3 over VC's Josephine Rausch and Giannamay Tayco.
Daniels and Barrios evened the match with their 21-9, 21-18 triumph in the No. 1 slot.
The Pirates then opened a 2-1 lead with a 21-17, 21-19 sweep by Rutherford and Brinkman.
Both Beira Boyso and Daphne Raymond at No. 5, and Talia Behrens and Sadie Lishman in the No. 2 slot dropped their first set before winning the second to force a decisive third. Raymond and Boyso fell 15-8 before Behrens and Lishman were upended 15-11.
Ventura next travels to Torrance on Wednesday Feb. 12 to take on host El Camino and Riverside.
Ventura 2, Grossmont 3
1. Shai Daniels/Viola Barrios (VC) def. GC No. 1 (GC), 21-9, 21-18
2. Talia Behrens/Sadie Lishman (VC) lost to GC No. 2 (GC), 21-17, 17-21, 15-11
3. Josephine Rausch/Giannamay Tayco (VC) lost to GC No. 3 (GC), 21-8, 21-13
4. Skylar Rutherford/Lexi Brinkman (VC) def. GC No. 4 (GC), 21-17, 21-19
5. Beira Boyso/Daphne Raymond (VC) lost to GC No. 5 (GC), 21-15, 19-21, 15-8
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 4, 5, 2