The VC volleyball team played its best match of the season Wednesday, sweeping past Santa Barbara 18, 16 and 20 to vault back into a first place tie atop the Western State Conference North Division with the Vaqueros and Moorpark. Kayla Murdoch led the effort with 19 kills and a .482 hitting percentage and Kylie Ibbotson had nine winners at .318. Ashley Johnson handed out 43 assists and Autumn Rojelio recorded 22 digs defensively in the triumph.
Ventura, ranked No. 9 in the state, went ahead from the opening serve with a kill by Talia Behrens and never really looked back. The teams were close early before a soft kill by Murdoch, a service ace from Johnson, and a back row winner by Makena Schaumloeffel put VC ahead 16-11 in the first set. Schaumloeffel, Behrens and Ibbotson all had solid swings later in the set for a 22-17 advantage before Behrens scored in the middle and Rojelio hit an ace to clinch the opening set, 25-18.
The No. 24-ranked Vaqueros held their only lead of the night at 1-0 in the second set before the Pirates scored seven of the next nine points for a 7-3 margin. Murdoch converted a big swing and Johnson served an ace for a 17-12 advantage, eliciting a SBCC timeout. The break was no help for Santa Barbara, however, as Ventura continued to dominate play with Schaumloeffel registering the kill on set point. VC took the set, 25-16.
The Pirates kept the foot on the gas pedal in the third set, feeding Murdoch early and often. The VC All-American scored four of the first six points of the set, and Ibbotson hit three winners and an ace for a 12-6 Pirate lead. SBCC made their only run of the evening to close to within 13-12 and 14-13, but a pair of kills and a block by Murdoch along with Johnson's service ace repelled the Vaquero charge. VC led 21-15 to induce Santa Barbara's final timeout and Ibbotson closed the door on the Vaqueros with her winner at match point. The Pirates won the third set 25-20 to complete the sweep.
Schaumloeffel and Behrens each ended the night with seven kills as the Pirates won 61 of their 75 points on kills, aces or blocks. Johnson added four services aces to her stat line and Rojelio hit a pair of aces in the match. Brianna Morrison recorded three winners at the net with a solo block and a pair of block assists.
The Pirates (13-2, 3-1) will close the first round of conference play on Friday Oct. 13 at Los Angeles Mission College in Sylmar.