Two Sweeps Puts VC in Driver's Seat in WSC

The VC beach volleyball team posted a pair of sweeps over Moorpark and Santa Monica, respectively, to finish the first of three rounds of Western State Conference play unbeaten. The Pirates' No. 3 team of Katey Mulville and Averi Carter won the clincher in both contests, and also prevailed in the only three-set match of the day against the Raiders.

In the opener, the Pirates gave away but one set to MC in the sweep. Grace Williams and Gabby Raines claimed the first point with a 21-13, 21-9 win at No. 5 before Kylie Ibbotson and Bryce Swain won at no. 4, 21-15, 21-11. Mulville and Carter won the third match on the three-court facility at Cal State Bakersfield with come-from behind 16-21, 21-11, 15-12 victory at No. 3. Kayla Murdoch and Autumn Rojelio Moreno earned a 21-12, 21-17 triumph in the No. 1 match and Olivia Sletten and Ashley Johnson closed out the sweep with a 21-12, 21-14 straight-set victory at No. 2.

In the day's second match-up, VC dominated Santa Monica without dropping a set. Murdoch and Rojelio Moreno claimed the first win of the contest 21-6, 21-7 in the top slot before Williams and Raines won their No. 5 match, 21-12, 21-12. Mulville and Carter once again were in position to clinch the victory for Ventura, doing so by a 21-11, 21-15 margin over their Corsair opponents. Sletten and Johnson won at no. 2, 21-11, 21-12 before Ibbotson and Swain completed the sweep with a 21-17, 21-16 win in the No. 4 match. 

Ventura (12-1, 4-0) remains unbeaten against community college competition and leads the Western State Conference race after the first of three rounds of conference play. They next take to the sand on Friday march 31 at East Beach in Santa Barbara taking on Bakersfield and the host Vaqueros.

Ventura 5, Moorpark 0

1. Kayla Murdoch/Autumn Rojelio Moreno (VC) def. Hailey Walton/Larissa Dakoske (MC), 21-12, 21-17
2. Olivia Sletten/Ashley Johnson (VC) def. Brooke Bunker/Cashe Olswang (MC), 21-12, 21-14
3. Katey Mulville/Averi Carter (VC) def. Makenna Majus/Tyler Mobley (MC), 16-21, 21-11, 15-12
4. Kylie Ibbotson/Bryce Swain (VC) def. Emma Songco/Brooke McFadyen (MC), 21-15, 21-11
5. Grace Williams/Gabby Raines (VC) def. Skylar Costa/Gracie Garland (MC), 21-13, 21-9

Order of Finish: 5, 4, 3, 1, 2

Ventura 5, Santa Monica 0

1. Kayla Murdoch/Autumn Rojelio Moreno (VC) def. Arianna Urena/Mackenzie Wolff (SMC), 21-6, 21-7
2. Olivia Sletten/Ashley Johnson (VC) def. Halle Anderson/Scheala Nielsen (SMC), 21-11, 21-12
3. Katey Mulville/Averi Carter (VC) def. Sophia Lawrence/Maiella Rivera (SMC), 21-11, 21-15
4. Kylie Ibbotson/Bryce Swain (VC) def. Trishia Fields/Mia Paulson (SMC), 21-17, 21-16
5. Grace Williams/Gabby Raines (VC) def. #4/Scheala Nielsen (SMC), 21-12, 21-12

Order of Finish: 1, 5, 3, 2, 4