The season of redemption continued for the Ventura College volleyball team Wednesday night as the Pirates found a signature win in their sweep of SoCal No. 10 Pierce College, 27-25, 25-22, 25-19 at the Athletic Event Center. Sarah Veloz had 11 kills and Shelby Stanger had 24 assists and three service aces to lead the way for VC (7-5, 1-1).
The Brahmas came into the match with the No. 10-ranking in Southern California, the No. 16-ranking in the state. That stature did not phase the Pirates, however, as they stood toe-to-toe with the three-peat state champions from 2010-2012.
The first set was a back-and-forth affair with the teams tying 11 times in the first 26 points of the match. Ariel Beck had a block to put Ventura ahead 17-15, forcing a Brahma timeout. The Pirates extended the advantage to 19-15 before Pirece came back to take a 21-20 lead.
Veloz had a kill, followed by a Tori Hiott ace and a kill from Makeda Pelle as VC went back ahead 23-21. The Brahmas followed with a sideout and two more points to create set-point, 24-23. The Pirates battled through two set points before taking the set themselves, 27-25.
The second set was almost as close, with both teams taking turns in the lead. The Brahmas were ahead 6-4 early before the Pirates rebounded to take a 9-7 advantage.
Pierce scored the next five points, leading 12-9, and built the advantage to 15-11 before VC came back once again. Beck had a pair of kills in the next three Pirate points, and a Kirra Drury kill and an error by Pierce evened the score at 16-16.
The Brahmas held a 21-19 advantage before VC answered with a service ace from Drury. the score was tied at 21-21 and 22-22 when Hiott recorded a kill and Stanger served an ace to put the Pirates into two set points. Beck killed it on the first try and Ventura took the second set, 25-22.
Ventura took control of the third set early, and never relenquished it. Stanger served the Pirates to 2-0, and Mehgan Lambert's kill made it 5-2, VC. A Veloz kill put the Pirates ahead 15-9. Lambert hit a shot down the line to make the score 20-11, and Ventura rode the momentum to a 25-19 set win to take the match.
Lambert had a strong night with five kills with no hitting errors to go along with three blocks and 10 digs. Cassandra Lacanilao contributed 11 digs to the effort.
Ventura heads to Santa Maria to take on Allan Hancock College on Friday Oct. 10 in a 6:00 pm match. They return home Wednesday Oct. 15 against Moorpark. That home match starts an hour earlier than normal, beginning at 6:00 pm, as well.