Pirates Down Vaqueros in Four To Bign Final Week

The VC women's volleyball team began the final week of the regular season Tuesday with a convincing four-set victory over visiting Santa Barbara. In the match rescheduled from Nov. 6, the Pirates captured the first two sets, 25-19 and 25-20 before falling in the third, 22-25. Ventura (13-9, 7-4) clinched the win taking the fourth set, 25-21. Shai Daniels' double-double of 15 kills and 21 digs led the way for the Pirates and Daphne Raymond recorded 10 winners at the net. Josephine Rausch narrowly missed a double-double with 27 digs and nine kills.

VC freshman Josephine Rausch (10) had 7 digs and nine kills as the Pirates defeated Santa Barbara in four sets Tuesday at the Athletic Event Center. (photo by Larry Gleeson)
VC freshman Josephine Rausch (10) had 7 digs and nine kills as the Pirates defeated Santa Barbara in four sets Tuesday at the Athletic Event Center. (photo by Larry Gleeson)
Video Box Score
November 12, 2024

The VC women's volleyball team began the final week of the regular season Tuesday with a convincing four-set victory over visiting Santa Barbara. In the match rescheduled from Nov. 6, the Pirates captured the first two sets, 25-19 and 25-20 before falling in the third, 22-25. Ventura (13-9, 7-4) clinched the win taking the fourth set, 25-21. Shai Daniels' double-double of 15 kills and 21 digs led the way for the Pirates and Daphne Raymond recorded 10 winners at the net. Josephine Rausch narrowly missed a double-double with 27 digs and nine kills.

Winners from Natalie Bair, Raymond and Rausch, and an ace from Bryce Swain put the Pirates ahead 7-6 early. SBCC rebounded, however, togo ahead 14-12. Daniels had a kill to keep VC to within 17-16 and Raymond's swing tied the first set a 17. Taylor Lane put Ventura ahead on the next point as VC outscored Santa Barbara 8-1 down the stretch. Raymond's block on set point gave Ventura the 25-18 win.

SBCC led 6-4 when Talia Behrens got things going, hitting a pair of winners for a 9-6 VC advantage. The Vaqueros fought back to 12-12 before Rauch's successful swing made it 17-15 for VC. Callie Cahill and Raymond hit back-to-back winners for a 21-17 lead and an SB service error put the Pirates at set point, 24-20. Cahill had the kill on the next point to give Ventura the commanding two-set lead, 25-20 in the second.

The Pirates fell behind in the third set by scores of 3-0 and 6-3. Cahill hit a kill to pull Ventura to within 11-10 and Bair's winner made it 13-12 for SBCC. VC caught the Vaqueros at 14-14 and Behren's kill at the net gave VC a 17-15 margin. Liz Schalde, Rausch and Daniels all had winners for a 20-18 Ventura lead before SB tied things up at 21. The Vaqueros scored four of the final five points of the set to take it 25-22, cutting into the Pirates' match lead.

Raymond and Behrens scored early for Ventura in the fourth set, and an ace by Schalde gave the Pirates a 5-2 edge.Daniel's kill made it 8-3 before SBCC came back scoring the next three points. Daniels continued her hot streak with another pair of winners for a 15-9 lead, and Ventura worked the margin all the way up to 19-10. SBCC scored five straight before Rausch ended the VC skid with two winners and a block. Daniels' kill pushed Ventura to match point, and she finished the job with a winner for the 25-21 clincher.

Bair and Schalde recorded 21 and 18 assists, respectively and Swain had 13 digs on defense. Lane had a great night with seven blocks while Behrens and Raymond each recorded four.

The Pirates will close the regular season with a pair of home matches.  VC will host Los Angeles Pierce on Friday Nov. 15 at 6:00 pm in the final Western State Conference North Division game before playing host to a "to be determined" WSC South team on Saturday Nov. 16 at 2:00 pm.