The Ventura College volleyball team had a difficult time Wednesday, falling to state No. 3-ranked Santa Barbara in three sets, 25-16, 25-17, 25-14, at the Athletic Event Center. Paris Dosch had seven kills and four blocks for VC (9-15, 3-4) and Armonee had six kills. Mikayla Spears and Rachel Howery recorded 14 and 12 assists, respectively, and Kierra Joyner had 24 digs.
The Pirates, who played to within eight points in an earlier match against the Vaqueros, held their own in the first set, pulling even at 12-12. THey remained within four points 19-15 before SBCC scored six of the final seven points to claim the first set, 25-16.
VC got down big early in the second set, trailing 9-1. They did not roll over, however, as kills by Joyner and Brianna Finch pulled VC to within 12-7. Paulina Iverson had a kill to make it 18-12 and Finch followed that with an impressive back-line kill to make the score 18-14. Finch's service ace gave the Pirates five straight points. Santa Barbara responded in kind, outscoring VC 7-2 down the stretch for the 25-17 win.
Hunter and Braxton Jessie sandwiched kills around a Rachel Howery ace to put Ventura ahead 5-3 i the third set. Jessica Gomez had a solid swing to tie the score at 8-8, and Dosh had a pair of kills, along with another winner from Jessie gave the Pirates an 11-9 advantage. That would be just about all VC could muster, however, as the Vaqueros got hot, outscoring the Pirates 16-3 the rest of the way.
The Pirates will finish the season on Wednesday Nov. 16 at home against Moorpark. The match is slated to begin at 7:00 pm.