The No. 14-ranked Ventura College volleyball team traveled to No. 6 Bakersfield looking for a signature win. Despite a strong effort, however, the Pirates fell short to the Renegades, falling in three sets, 25-18, 27-25, 25-17 Tuesday night. Darynne Bickers and Nevada Knowles each recorded eight kills in the match, and Knowles added 12 assists, but VC (12-4, 4-1) fell short in the non-conference contest rescheduled from Sept. 22.
The Pirates put up the good fight for he entire match. Ventura led 8-6 in the first set before the Renegades scored seven straight to take control. VC remained within four points until the score was 20-16 when BC went on another run to take the set, 25-18.
Ventura commanded the second set. With Bakersfield ahead 13-9, the Pirates attempted a barrage of kill shots, only to be returned by the 'Gades. Finally, Bickers hit the winner with a tip, and VC went on a 10-3 run to take control, 20-16. Another Bickers tip put Ventura up 24-22, ready to take the set, but Bakersfield rallied from the brink to take control of the match 27-25.
The third set was just as close, never producing a margin of more than two points from 5-3 to 18-16. The Renegades, however, proved their ranking in the end, scoring eight f the final 10 points of the set to win 25-17 for the sweep.
Katey Mulville recorded four kills with a .429 hitting percentage in the match, and Averi Carter also had four winners for Ventura. Amelie Zubia handed out 11 assists with five digs and Amaris Garcia led the defense with six digs. Carter and Alexis Baloyo each had four digs and Carter and Miranda DeBeary each produced four service aces in the match.
The Pirates, still in the thick of the Western State Conference North Division race, return home on Friday Oct. 22 to host Moorpark College. The match, which will be live streamed on the VC Sports Network, is slated to begin at 6:00 pm at the Athletic Event Center.