The VC volleyball team got back on track Friday with a resounding 25-12, 25-18, 25-15 sweep over visiting Los Angeles Pierce. Alba Romanos Gracia led the Pirates, who played without two starters on the front line, with eight kills while Makena Schaumloeffel recorded seven winners. Brianna Morrison had five kills in the middle with an efficient .556 hitting percentage. Autumn Rojelio recorded 18 digs and Liz Schalde handed out 17 assists in the match.
Ventura (11-2, 1-1), ranked No. 5 in the state, was dominant from the start as they opened up a 7-2 margin early in the first set. The lead grew to 19-9 forcing a Brahma timeout. The Pirates took the first set 25-12.
Pierce jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the second set before VC won five of the next six points to tie the score at 7-7. After trading sideouts with Pierce on the next four serves, VC won three in a row to begin to pull away, 13-10. The Pirate advantage expanded to 20-16 and Ventura took the set 25-19 on Morrison's kill in the middle.
Giving many reserves an opportunity to see game action, VC moved ahead of Pierce 16-11 and expanded the edge to 21-14 to precipitate another LAPC timeout. With Jocelyn Montoya on serve, Ventura scored the final three points to clinch the match with a 25-15 third-set win.
Bryce Swain had five kills in the match and Kylie Ibbotson hit four winners. Ashley Johnson had seven assists playing in just the first set and Morrison also had a pair of blocks.
The Pirates next travel to Cuesta on Wednesday Oct. 4.