The Ventura College women's volleyball team hosted No. 1-ranked Los Angeles Pierce, dropping the match in four sets, 25-15, 25-22, 21-25, 25-20. Libero Cassandra Lacanilao collected 35 digs, two assists, three kills and one ace. Brittney Mukhar had 10 kills and 12 digs with an ace. Tori Hiott added five aces in the match.
Facing off against the top-ranked Brahamas, the SoCal No. 13-ranked Pirates (16-6, 5-4) looked to gain ground in the ultra competitive Western State Conference North Divsion. VC was able to take one set off the Brahamas earlier in the year and was coming off back to back wins in WSC play.
In set one, Ventura and LA Pierce both came out with up-tempo attacks and played neck and neck volleyball to an 11-11 tie. The Brahamas then rolled off five straight points forcing VC to take their first time out. Looking to force a sideout and rally in the set, the Pirates were unable to overcome the Pierce attack. Eventually, the Brahamas claimed the first set 25-15.
Ventura looked to rebound in the second set, but the Brahma advantages continued early as Pierce took an 8-2 edge. After a time out, Ventura cut into the deficit 8-4. Mukhar drilled a kill off the head of one of the Brahams and the energy swung to VC with the Pirates rallying to tie the set at 9-9. Both teams again went back and forth trading points until Pierce was able to score three straight points for a 21-18 advantage. Coming out of a time out, Ventura forced a sideout immediately and looked at an opportunity to climb back in the set. Pierce was able to turn the Pirates away, however, to claim a 25-22 victory.
Down two sets to none and facing a sweep, VC looked to respond. As was frequent throughout the match both teams traded points throughout the early portion of the set for a 6-6 tie. Ventura took their first advantage of the set at 7-6 and Pierce went on a run to go up 11-10 and extending the lead to 15-11. Ventura sandwiched five straight points around a Brahma timeout to take a 16-15 advantage which they extended to a 21-18 edge, taking the set 25-21 to force a fourth set.
Playing to extend the match to a winner take all fifth set, Ventura came out with a 4-2 margin before Pierce rallied to take a 7-5 advantage in set four. Ventura rallied for a 7-7 tie and both teams continued their up-tempo attacks with the high intensity of the match showing for both teams. Following the trend of the first three sets the two teams went back and forth, neither team able to create separation with a lead. The set was tied at 19-19 when Ventura went on top 20-19 on an ace from Mukhar. Pierce responded with the next six points, however, to take the set 25-20, and the match 3-1.
Ventura will take to the road for their next two matches beginning on Friday Nov. 6 when they will travel to Allan Hancock College for a 6:00 pm match. On Wednesday Nov. 11 they will head to cross-county rival Moorpark College for a 6:00 pm match. before closing the regular season at home on Friday Nov. 13 against Santa Barbara.