VC Beach Volleyball Wins Two in Home Debut

The VC beach volleyball team returned home for the first time in 2025, defeating Desert 5-0 and Mt. San Jacinto 4-1 at the Ventura Harbor Cove Courts Friday. The Pirates' No. 3 team of Josephine Rausch and Giannamay Tayco were one of four Ventura duos with a pair of wins on the day.

In the opener, the Pirates swept past the Roadrunners 5-0. Liz Schalde and Daphne Raymond dispatched their opponents in the No. 5 match, 21-15, 21-14 while Rausch and Tayco triumphed at No. 3, 21-17, 21-8. Skylar Rutherford and Lexi Brinkman topped the No. 4 contest 21-18, 21-7 and Shai Daniels and Viola Barrios swept the No. 1 court, 21-11, 21-16. VC's No. 2 pair of Talia Behrens and Sadie Lishman went three sets before disposing their opponents 21-19, 17-21, 21-15.

In the Pirates' second contest of the day, they defeated Mt. San Jacinto, 4-1. Rausch and Tayco led four winners with a 21-15, 21-19 victory at No. 3 and Daniels and Barrios battled out a 21-17, 21-17 win at No. 1. Rutherford and Brinkman posted a 21-16, 21-14 triumph in the No. 4 match while Schalde and Raymond won on Court 5, 21-15, 21-16.  The only blemish on the day came in the No. 2 match where Behrens and Lishman, playing their second three-set contest, dropped a 21-19, 12-21, 15-10 decision.

Ventura (8-1) will scrimmage the VC alumnae on Sunday March 9 at the Harbor Cove Courts before opening Western State Conference play on Friday March 14 against Cuesta and Glendale in Santa Monica. 

Ventura 5, Desert 0

1. Shai Daniels/Viola Barrios (VC) def. Bella Branconier/Stacie Alexander (COD), 21-11, 21-16
2. Talia Behrens/Sadie Lishman (VC) def. Alexia Siani-Rader/Clairie Thomas  (COD), 21-19, 17-21, 15-7
3. Josephine Rausch/Giannamay Tayco (VC) def. Zayda Jouan/Sophia Gilbert (COD), 21-17, 21-8
4. Skylar Rutherford/Lexi Brinkman (VC) def. Itzel Solorio/Savannah Bush (COD), 21-18, 21-7
5. Liz Schalde/Daphne Raymond (VC) def. Natalie Fabian/Brianna Fabian (COD), 21-15, 21-14

Ventura 4, Mt. San Jacinto 1

1. Shai Daniels/Viola Barrios (VC) def. Korie Milan/Josephine Springer (MSJC), 21-17, 21-17
2. Talia Behrens/Sadie Lishman (VC) lost to Megan Gajda/Brooklyn Jimenez (MSJC), 21-19, 12-21, 15-10
3. Josephine Rausch/Giannamay Tayco (VC) def. Anna Ayala/Jade Tolliver (MSJC), 21-15, 21-19
4. Skylar Rutherford/Lexi Brinkman (VC) def. Amari Ramirez/Sienna Vitelli  (MSJC), 21-16, 21-14
5. Liz Schalde/Daphne Raymond (VC) def. Audrey Franks/Kalia Anady (MSJC), 21-15, 21-16