The VC beach volleyball team opened Western State Conference play on the road at their home courts with a pair of wins. With Glendale hosting at the Ventura Harbor Cove, VC defeated Cuesta 4-1 and the host Vaqueros 5-0 Friday. VC's No. 4 pair, Skylar Rutherford and Lexi Brinkman, were among three duos who won both contests on the day.
Cuesta came out strong in the first match of the day, and pushed Ventura's Shai Daniels and Viola Barrios to a 19-19 score in the first set with long rallies and impressive defense on both sides. Ultimately, the Pirates prevailed, closing out the first set 21-19 and sailing into a 21-4 win in set two. Rutherford and Brinkman won decisively again at the No. 4 spot, 21-6 and 21-12. The No. 2 and No. 3 teams both finished in a tie-breaker, with VC's new pairing of Giannamay Tayco and Addison Olsen winning 15-11, which sealed the victory for the Pirates. Olivia Brown and Dphane Raymond won at No. 5, 21-15, 21-9.
Glendale competed with four teams, so the Pirates only needed two wins to secure the dual. VC's top two pairs kept Glendale to single digits in both sets, with Daniels and Barrios winning 21-5, 21-9, and Talia Behrens and Sadie Lishman finishing 21-5, 21-3. The Pirates ultimately won at all spots, and finished the day with two wins.
Next week, VC will travel to play NCAA Division I Nebraska on Thursday March 20 in Santa Monica, then take on Moorpark and Santa Monica at Moorpark Friday Mar. 21.
Ventura 4, Cuesta 1
1. Shai Daniels/Viola Barrios (VC) def. Bailey Woodside/Emma Watkins (Cue.), 21-19, 21-4
2. Talia Behrens/Sadie Lishman (VC) lost to Amelie Lo Jocano/Brynn Bennett (Cue.) 22-20, 10-21, 15-11
3. Addison Olsen/Giannamay Tayco (VC) def. Cayley Brown/Madelyn Freeman (Cue.) 21-10, 17-21, 15-11
4. Skylar Rutherford/Lexi Brinkman (VC) def. Alexis Waltz/Annika Layton (Cue.) 21-6, 21-12
5. Olivia Brown/Daphne Raymond (VC) def. Hanne Porter/Rosita Menta (Cue.), 21-15, 21-9
Ventura 5, Glendale 0
1. Shai Daniels/Viola Barrios (VC) def. GCC No. 1 (GCC), 21-5, 21-9
2. Talia Behrens/Sadie Lishman (VC) def. GCC No. 2 (GCC), 21-5, 21-3
3. Addison Olsen/Giannamay Tayco (VC) def. GCC No. 3 (GCC), 21-5, 21-13
4. Skylar Rutherford/Lexi Brinkman (VC) def. GCC No. 4 (GCC), 21-9, 21-12
5. Olivia Brown/Daphne Raymond (VC) won by forfeit (GCC), 21-0, 21-0