The Pirates' beach volleyball team split a pair of Western State Conference matches Friday, defeating Moorpark 3-2 before falling to Santa Barbara 3-2 at the Ventura Harbor Cove Courts. Gracie Piro and Gabby Raines won a pair of matches at their No. 4 slot while Bryce Swain and Lily Hazzard posted two sweeps at No. 3 for Ventura (11-6, 5-1).
In the opener against Moorpark, Raines and Hazzard earned the Pirates' first point with a 21-9, 21-11 win at No. 3, followed by Piro and Raines' 21-15, 21-10 win in the No. 4 match. Kayla Murdoch and Autumn Rojelio clinched the VC win with a 21-17, 21-17 triumph in the No. 1 contest. The Raiders earned two points late by defeating Makena Schaumloeffel and Liz Schalde at No. 5 and Alba Romanos Gracia and Kylie Ibbotson at No. 2.
The finale of the day featured the top two teams in the WSC and the competition lived up to its billing. Swain and Hazzard continued their strong play with a 21-16, 21-14 sweep at no. 3 for the first score of the match. The Vaqueros pulled even with a 21-18, 21-10 win over Murdoch and Rojelio in the No. 1 slot. Soon thereafter, Piro and Raines posted their sweeping victory, 21-17, 24-22.
Schaumloeffel and Schalde dropped their first set in the No. 5 match before coming back to claim the second, 21-19. The VC pair trailed 11-6 in the third and deciding set before running off six straight winners to pull ahead, 12-11. The momentum did not last ,however, as SBCC scored the final four points of the set to take the contest. 15-12.
With the match tied, Romanos Gracia and Ibbotson gave a valiant effort in the No. 2 match-up. The duo dropped the first set 21-16 before coming back in the second to serve twice for the win, before dropping the set, 23-21.
Ventura continues WSC play on Friday April 5, traveling to Bakersfield to take on the hosts and Cuesta.
Ventura 3, Moorpark 2
1. Kayla Murdoch/Autumn Rojelio (VC) def. Larissa Dakoske/Grace Hazelton (MC), 21-17, 21-17
2. Alba Romanos Gracia/Kylie Ibbotson (VC) lost to Alesia Thomas/Cashe Olswang (MC), 21-16, 21-23, 15-9
3. Bryce Swain/Lily Hazzard (VC) def. Alexandra Moorhead/Giana Tayco (MC), 21-9, 21-11
4. Gracie Piro/Gabby Raines (VC) def. Emma Songco/Hyemin Jo (MC), 21-15, 21-10
5. Makena Schaumloeffel/Liz Schalde (VC) lost to Abby Montana/Kristin Alvandian (MC), 21-19, 21-14
Order of Finish: 3, 4, 1, 5, 2
Ventura 2, Santa Barbara 3
1. Kayla Murdoch/Autumn Rojelio (VC) lost to Olivia Medina/Ashley Rossi (SBCC), 21-18, 21-10
2. Alba Romanos Gracia/Kylie Ibbotson (VC) lost to Alexis Zevenbergen /Nevaeh Tillet (SBCC), 21-16, 23-21
3. Bryce Swain/Lily Hazzard (VC) def. Carolina Koceman/Charlotte Wilson (SBCC), 21-16, 21-14
4. Gracie Piro/Gabby Raines (VC) def. Carly Hanna/Celia Espinoza (SBCC), 21-17, 24-22
5. Makena Schaumloeffel/Liz Schalde (VC) lost to Jillian Zimmerman/Vanessa Cabeza (SBCC), 21-15, 19-21, 15-12
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 4, 5, 2