Pirates Sweep Pierce in Conference Finale

The VC volleyball team swept past Los Angeles PIerce 25-15, 25-12, 25-14 Friday in the penultimate match of the regular season and the final Western State Conference North Division contest. Makena Schaumloeffel led the balanced Pirate attack with six kills, seven digs and five service aces. Giannamay Tayco also recorded seven digs defensively and Natalie Bair handed out 15 assists.

It wasn't close from the beginning as Shai Daniels' ace put VC ahead 3-0 early. Talia Behrens hit a winner for a 5-2 VC lead and Daniels hit back-to-back kills to push the lead to 13-5. Josephine Rausch hit consecutive winners for a 20-13 margin and Callie Cahill put down the winner on set-point.

The Brahmas kept a slim advantage halfway through the second set. Schaumloeffel and Taylor Lane had winners to put VC ahead 15-12 and Schaumloeffel's ace made it 18-12. The Pirates' streak continued with another pair of aces by Schaumloeffel as VC won the final 12 points to took the set 25-12.

Behrens had a winner and Schaumloeffel hit another ace as Ventura began the third set ahead 2-1. Skylar Rutherford also served an ace for a 10-3 VC advantage. The Brahmas closed to within 12-8 before VC opened the lead back up. Schaumloeffel had a winner for a 21-14 score and Lexi Brinkman's winner made it 23-14. Ventura clinched the match with a 25-14 third-set win.

Daniels, Brinkman, Behrens and Lane all had four kills in the match and Brinkman also recorded five digs. 

The Pirates finish in a third-place tie in the WSC North with Santa Barbara, but take the fourth spot on a tiebreaker. VC will host Glendale on Saturday Nov. 16 at 2:00 pm in the WSC Crossover. Glendale is the fourth -place team from the WSC South. The 3C2A Southern California Playoffs will begin on Saturday Nov. 23.