After an unexpected week away from games, the Pirates' volleyball team took a while to get going Friday at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. Ventura dropped the first two sets to the Bulldogs, 25-18 and 25-15 before turning things around in the reverse sweep triumph, 25-15, 25-14, 15-12. Shai Daniels had a stellar night with 21 kills, hitting .348, and 12 digs and Josephine Rausch turned in 17 winners with 14 digs to lead Ventura (12-9, 6-4). Natalie Bair recorded 33 assists in the marathon victory.
The Pirates came into the match with only one contest played in the last nine days after Wednesday's match was postponed. The rust and travel were evident early as Ventura dropped the first set 25-18 and the second 25-15 to a spirited Bulldog team.
Things got turned around in the third set, however, as VC got on the board with a 25-15 win and they forced the decisive set taking the fourth, 25-14. The final set was not easy, however, as AHC pushed Ventura to the brink before the Pirates clinched the victory, 15-12.
Daphne Raymond ended the night with nine winners at the net and Daniels added three service aces to her statistics haul. Liz Schalde handed out 20 assists and Bryce Swain recorded 12 digs on defense.
Ventura enters the final week of the regular season next week with a pending make-up game against Santa Barbara at home and a home contest against LA Pierce on Friday Nov. 16. Ventura will also be a host for a Western State Conference crossover on Saturday Nov. 17 at 2:00 pm.