The Pirate volleyball team was unable to carry over the momentum of Wednesday's victory Friday at Santa Barbara Friday, falling to the Vaqueros 25-18, 25-22, 26-24 at the Sports Pavilion. Josephine Rausch led the effort for the Pirates with 12 kills on the night, hitting at a .455 clip, while Callie Cahill recorded nine winners at the net. Skylar Rutherford had 15 assists and Bryce Swain totaled eight digs for Ventura (8-7, 2-2).
VC dropped the first set 25-18. The Pirates led late in the second before falling 25-22 and were up again in the third when the Vaqueros came back to clinch the match 26-24.
The Pirate defense was solid again at the net with six total blocks, three assisted blocks each by Talia Behrens and Taylor Lane. Behrens also recorded four kills in the middle. Rutherford added a pair of service aces while Makena Schaumloeffel and Natalie Bair each had six digs defensively. Bair also contributed 13 assists to the effort.
Ventura returns to action on Wednesday Oct. 16 at home against Allan Hancock College. Match time is set for 6:00 pm.