Beach Volleyball Wins Two on Opening Day

The Ventura College beach volleyball team opened their season with two wins at Rosie's Dog Beach in Long Beach against Cerritos and Golden West, winning 3-2 and 4-1, respectively. The Pirates have a young roster, returning only three sophomores and adding two transfers and ten freshmen. Two of the first-year players, Shai Daniels and Viola Barrios, debuted at the No. 1 spot and went undefeated on the day, winning 21-12, 21-16, and again 21-12, 21-16. 

All the Pirates' pairs won at least one match. Freshmen Sadie Lishman and Talia Behrens started with a commanding 21-14, 21-15 victory over the No. 2 pair for Cerritos. Freshman Josephine Rausch partnered with transfer Giannamay Tayco and dropped a competitive match to Cerritos before finding their stride against Golden West, winning 21-13, 21-9. Sophomore Skylar Rutherford and Sophomore transfer Lexi Brinkman were rock solid at the No. 4 spot, sweeping both their matches 21-17, 21-14 and 21-8, 21-10. Meanwhile, sophomore Liz Schalde and freshman Taylor Lane lost a three-setter to Cerritos but finished the day with a radical 21-6, 21-1 win over Golden West at the No. 5 spot. 

The VC beach volleyball team has qualified for the 3C2A State Tournament for two straight seasons, but most of the members of those teams moved on after last season, including All-American Kayla Murdoch (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo), Autumn Rojelio (Cal State Northridge), Kylie Ibbotson (Whittier College), and Alba Romanos-Gracia (New College of Florida). 

The 2025 team hopes to continue its strong start and will face an always-impressive Grossmont team on Friday, Feb. 7 at Moorpark College. 

Ventura 4, Golden West 1

1. Shai Daniels/Viola Barrios (VC) def. GWC No. 1 (GWC), 21-12, 21-16
2. Talia Behrens/Sadie Lishman (VC) lost to GWC No. 2 (GWC), 21-17, 21-14
3. Josephine Rausch/Giannamay Tayco (VC) def. GWC No. 3 (GWC), 21-13, 21-9
4. Skylar Rutherford/Lexi Brinkman (VC) def. GWC No. 4 (GWC), 21-8, 21-10
5. Liz Schalde/Taylor Lane (VC) def. GWC No. 5 (GWC), 21-6, 21-1

Ventura 3, Cerritos 2

1. Shai Daniels/Viola Barrios (VC) def. CC No. 1 (CC), 21-12, 21-16
2. Talia Behrens/Sadie Lishman (VC) def. CC No. 2 (CC), 21-14, 21-15
3. Josephine Rausch/Giannamay Tayco (VC) lost to CC No. 3 (CC), 21-19, 21-18
4. Skylar Rutherford/Lexi Brinkman (VC) def. CC No. 4 (CC), 21-17, 21-14
5. Liz Schalde/Taylor Lane (VC) lost to CC No. 5 (CC), 21-10, 19-21, 15-11