Spikers Fall In First Playoff Appearance in Seven Years

The fact that the No. 15-seed Pirate volleyball team fell in three sets, 25-18, 25-16, 25-17, at No,. 2 Grossmont Tuesday night in the CCCAA SoCal regional Playoffs cannot dull the brightness of the season just  completed.  VC (12-11) made its first playoff appearance in seven years in El Cajon, in a brief but memorable match.

The Griffons controlled each of the first two sets.  Grossmont (26-0) won the first set 25-18, and took an early lead in the second. Mehgan Lambert had a kill in the second to bring Ventura to within 9-5, but the Pirates could not gain any traction.  VC trailed 17-9 and 19-12 before falling 25-16 in the set.

Ventura showed signs of life in the third set, taking a 4-3 lead on a Sarah Veloz kill.  The Pirates were ahead 9-6 before the Griffons netted 12 straight points to essentially kill any hopes of a VC upset.  Grossmont captured the clincher 25-17.

Lambert, playing her final match in the orange and black, had five kills and 11 digs while fellow sophomore Makeda Pellealso recorded five kills.  Sophomore Veloz produced four kills for VC.  Freshmen Tori Hiott and Shelby Stanger had four kills and 14 assists, respectively.

The superlatives that were written a week ago in the presumed eulogy of the 2014 season continue to apply after tonight's surprise playoff appearance.  A year after winning but two matches, the team regained relevance on a conference and state level with its season of redemption.  

In addition to its first winning season since 2007 and the most conference wins since 2005, the Pirates added its first playoff appearance in seven seasons to the list of accomplishments.  

And those freshmen who return in 2015 for coach Brad Lyans will have increased expectations for the future of the program, which looks to be bright.