2023 Ventura College Beach Volleyball Team News
Ventura College student athletes excelled once again in the classroom in 2022-23, achieving an overall 3.29 grade point average in the fall and following that up with a 3.19 overall GPA in the spring semester. A total of 108 Pirates achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher, earning mention on the Dean's List in the fall 2022 term while taking in 12 or more units of study, with 53 student athletes recording a perfect 4.0 GPA. In spring 2023, 110 VC student athletes were named on the Dean's List with 45 posting perfect GPA's.
The VC beach volleyball team had three pairs recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association with their Top Flight Awards announced last month. The Pirates' No. 1 pair of Kayla Murdoch and Autumn Rojelio Moreno was recognized along with the Nos. 2 and 3 duos of Ashley Johnson and Olivia Sletten and Averi Carter and Katey Mulville, respectively.
Volleyball and beach volleyball standout Kayla Murdoch and baseball star Reiss Calvin have been named the 2022-23 Ventura College Athletics Athletes of the Year. Recognized at the VC Athletic Hall of Fame and Student Athlete recognition Banquet last month, the pair each had record-setting seasons in their respective sports to earn the Pirates' top athletic honor.
The VC beach volleyball team ended the most successful season in school history Saturday with Ashley Johnson and Olivia Sletten advancing to the CCCAA State Elite Eight while Kayla Murdoch and Autumn Rojelio Moreno moved all the way to the Final Four before at West Valley College.
On the heels of Thursday's state runner-up finish in the team tournament, the VC beach volleyball team send two duos to the Sweet 16 of the CCCAA Pairs Tournament in pool play Friday at West Valley College. The Pirates' Ashley Johnson and Olivia Sletten won their pool while Kayla Murdoch and Autumn Rojelio Moreno finished second in theirs to advance to Saturday's 16-team single-elimination bracket to determine the state champion.
On a long day at West Valley College from a cool morning to warm afternoon sun, the Pirate beach volleyball team gave all they could until the shadows grew long Thursday, advancing to the CCCAA state championship match with a victory in pool play before falling in a heartbreakingly close 3-2 decision to Grossmont in the final. Ventura (22-3-1) ends the best season in program history with the assurance that they left everything on the courts competing in the final match on the final day of the season.
On Friday, the VC beach volleyball team qualified three duos for next week's CCCAA State Pairs Tournament. Kayla Murdoch and Autumn Rojelio Moreno, Olivia Sletten and Ashley Johnson, and Averi Carter and Katey Mulville played Saturday at El Camino for seedings at state with excellent results. Sletten and Johnson earned the SoCal Runner-Up seed while Murdoch and Rojelio finished third. Meanwhile, Carter and Mulville ended the day with strong play despite their No. 8 finish in the draw.
The VC beach volleyball team had an undefeated day Friday on the first day of the Southern California Pairs Tournament at El Camino College in Torrance. The Pirate teams of Kayla Murdoch and Autumn Rojelio Moreno, Ashley Johnson and Olivia Sletten, and Averi Carter and Katey Mulville each won their two matches on Friday moving into SoCal's Elite Eight and Qualifying for next week's CCCAA State Pairs Tournament.
The Ventura College beach volleyball team sailed into uncharted waiters Tuesday hosting the Southern California Playoffs at the Ventura Harbor Courts. The top-seeded Pirates advanced to the CCCAA State Championships for the first time in program history by sweeping past No. 9 Moorpark and No. 8 Long Beach. VC's No. 1 pair of Kayla Murdoch and Autumn Rojelio Moreno clinched both matches while the No. 4's Alba Romanos Gracia and Grace Williams closed out each sweep.
The Ventura College beach volleyball team has earned the No. 1 seed in the Southern California Regional Playoffs that begin Tuesday May 2. The Pirates will host No. 8 Long Beach and No. 9 Moorpark at the Ventura Harbor Courts beginning at 10:00 am.
The Ventura College beach volleyball team qualified three pairs for the Southern California Regionals Saturday as the Western State Conference Pairs Tournament concluded at the Ventura Harbor Courts. Kayla Murdoch and Autumn Rojelio Moreno finished the draw in second place while Ashley Johnson and Olivia Sletten claimed the bronze medal. Meanwhile Katey Mulville and Averi Carter won an elimination match to place sixth to punch their ticket to the post-season.
Three pairs team from the VC beach volleyball team advanced Friday on the first of two days of the Western State Conference Championships at the Ventura Harbor Cove Courts. The Pirates' No. 1 duo of Kayla Murdoch and Autumn Rojelio Moreno and the No. 2 pair of Olivia Sletten and Ashley Johnson each moved toward a semifinal showdown while the No. 3 team of Averi Carter and Katey Mulville won their first match before being knocked to the consolation bracket with a setback in their second.
The Ventura College beach volleyball team clinched its third Western State Conference championship in the eight-year history of the program, including six with with titles awarded, on Friday. The Pirates (19-2, 11-1) closed out the regular season in commanding fashion with two 5-0 sweeps over Moorpark and Santa Monica, respectively, in Santa Barbara. Bryce Swain and Kylie Ibbotson finished the regular season with a perfect 19-0 record, including a strong victory against Moorpark in the opener.
The Ventura College beach volleyball team jumped back into the driver's seat in the Western State Conference race and took an inside track to a possible home playoff date with an exciting 3-2 triumph over Santa Barbara in Santa Monica on Friday. The Pirates followed up that win with a 5-0 sweep over Bakersfield on the penultimate day of the conference schedule. Grace Williams and Alba Romanos Gracia provided the match-winning victory against the Vaqueros in a three-set thriller while Olivia Sletten and Ashley Johnson won twice on the day, including the clincher against BC.
During another beautiful Spring beach day in Ventura Friday, the VC beach volleyball team wrapped up the second round of Western State Conference play with a pair of decisive 5-0 sweeps over Moorpark and Santa Monica. The Pirates’ fire power was on full display as they dominated in straight sets in all spots against the Raiders and Corsairs.
After sweeping through the first round of Western State Conference play, the Pirates' beach volleyball team split their first two matches of the middle round in play in Santa Barbara Friday. Ventura (13-2, 5-1) defeated Bakersfield 5-0 in their first contest before falling in a narrow 3-2 decision to host Santa Barbara in the second. VC's No. 3 pair of Katey Mulville and Averi Carter, along with No. 5 Kylie Ibbotson and Bryce Swain each recorded two wins on the day.
