The VC beach volleyball team split a pair of Western State Conference matches Friday at the Ventura Harbor Cove Courts. The Pirates defeated Moorpark 4-1 in the morning match before falling by a razor-thin margin against Santa Barbara in the afternoon affair. Ventura's No. 4 pair of Addison Olsen and Giannamay Tayco won both their contests on the day to lead the Pirates (12-4, 4-2).
The Pirates bested the Raiders in the first match of the day 4-1, one win better than their 3-2 victory a week ago. Talia Behrens and Sadie Lishman posted a solid 21-8, 21-7 victory on Court 2 while Olsen and Tayco won in straight sets, 21-10, 21-14 in the No. 4 contest. Beira Boyso and Taylor Lane won a point in the No. 5 match, 21-14, 21-16, before Skylar Rutherford and Lexi Brinkman won a marathon 21-14, 10-21, 15-13 decision on Court 3.
The nightcap was an epic battle on the sand between two of the WSC's top programs that came down to the final match. After Santa Barbara won on Courts 2 and 5, the Pirates came storming back as Shai Daniels and Viola Barrios swept the top court, 21-16, 21-14. Olsen and Tayco prevailed in another three-set contest, surviving two match points to take the win in extra volleyball, 21-13, 18-21, 18-16.
With the Pirates and Vaqueros all square at 2-2, the match came down to Court 3 where Rutherford and Brinkman took the opening set, 21-18, SBCC won the second, 21-16, forcing the decisive third-set, the Ventura duo's second of the day. Despite a 6-0 early lead on Rutherford's serve, the Pirates could not hold back Santa Barbara's pair. In a nail-biter, VC fell in the final set, 15-13 to lose the match, 3-2.
VC next travels to Bakersfield on Friday April 4 to take on the host Renegades and Cuesta in WSC play.
Ventura 4, Moorpark 1
1. Shai Daniels/Viola Barrios (VC) lost to Prior Borick/Grace Hazelton (MC), 21-18, 21-16
2. Talia Behrens/Sadie Lishman (VC) def. Bella Torrero/Olivia Campisi (MC), 21-8, 21-7
3. Skylar Rutherford/Lexi Brinkman (VC) def. Gaby Shirado/Mia Paculan (MC) 21-14, 10-21, 15-13
4. Addison Olsen/Giannamay Tayco (VC) def. Abby Montana/Ela Lagatutta (MC) 21-10, 21-14
5. Beira Boyso/Taylor Lane (VC) def. Dea Larch/Danielle Robinson (MC), 21-14, 21-16
Ventura 2, Santa Barbara 3
1. Shai Daniels/Viola Barrios (VC) def. Tana Long/Kaylin Cooney (SBCC), 21-16, 21-14
2. Talia Behrens/Sadie Lishman (VC) lost to Sage Thorne-Thomsen/Madelynn Papia (SBCC), 21-14, 21-14
3. Skylar Rutherford/Lexi Brinkman (VC) lost to Nevaeh Tillett/Lina Husek (SBCC) 18-21, 21-16, 15-13
4. Addison Olsen/Giannamay Tayco (VC) def. Charlotte Wilson/Lindsey Caba (SBCC) 21-13, 18-21, 18-16
5. Beira Boyso/Taylor Lane (VC) lost to Carly Hanna/Madison Genasci (SBCC), 21-14, 24-22
Order of Finish: 2, 5, 1, 4, 3