Pirates overcome early deficit to down Cougars in four games

Continuing Western State Conference play the Pirate volleyball team dropped the first set 21-25, but rallied back to win the next three 25-23, 25-14 and 25-14 to claim a 3-1 victory over visiting Cuesta Wednesday night. Tori Hiott picked up 17 kills, six digs and three blocks. Brittney Mukhar served up five aces to go with eight kills and 12 digs. Ventura (13-2, 2-0), ranked 12th in Southern California, won their seventh straight match.

In the first set, both teams came out with fast-paced play, but early errors by the Pirates allowed Cuesta to push out to early 5-1 and 18-12 leads. Battling back, VC cut the lead to 24-21, scoring six straight points before the Cougars claimed the win.

Down after one set, the Pirates again trailed early, 5-1 and 11-5 before cutting into the Cougar advantage when Mukhar picked up four straight points on serve. The Pirates eventually tied the score at 13-13 and the two teams went back and forth until Ventura broke away with the score knotted at 21 to claim a 25-23 win.

The Pirates and Cougars continued their tight play in the third set, as they were tied 10-10 when Ventura went on offensive attack to to stretch the lead to 21-14, forcing a Cuesta timeout. When the two teams returned to action the Pirates rattled off four straight points to claim a 25-14 win.

Ventura jumped all over the Cougars in the fourth set, marching to an early 10-3 lead.  VC never looked back, eventually pushing the lead to 18-9. The Pirates closed out the victory in resounding fashion with a 25-14 victory.

Jaimelene Salgado set up the Pirates offensive attack with 27 assists in the match. Armonee Hunter added 10 kills to the Pirates attack with Paris Dosch adding 10 kills of her own to go with two blocks.

The win sets up a showdown on Friday Oct. 9 versus currently no. 1-ranked Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills. The Pirates will return home on Wednesday Oct. 14 versus Allan Hancock College.