Spikers end Desert's hot streak in five

The VC volleyball team came from behind for an exciting five-set win over College of the Desert Monday at the Athletic Event Center, ending the Roadrunners' 14-match winning streak. Josephine Rausch had another double-double with 14 kills and 16 digs and Addison Olson hit .333 at the net with seven winners to go along with 10 blocks to lead state No. 18 Ventura past No.14 COD.

In a match that was rescheduled from Sept. 24, the Roadrunners came in having already clinched the Inland Empire Conference title heading into the final week of the regular season. They had won 14 straight contests dating to Sept. 12. They had also won 26 straight sets.

The Roadrunners continued their hot streak in the first set. They built a slim lead, and despite kills from Madison Mierau and Rausch, and a block from Callie Cahill, the Pirates trailed 11-9. Daphne Raymond and Jocelyn Alfar also had winners to try to keep VC close, but Desert rolled at the end of a 25-17 first-set win.

The Pirates dropped the first four points of the second set, and still trailed by three after a Raymond block, a Rausch kill and a Raymond winner on three straight points. Raymond recorded another kill and Rausch produced back-to-back winners as Ventura tied the set at 7-7. The Roadrunners followed by winning seven of the next nine points for a 14-9 advantage when Taylor Lane scored at the net to end the skid. Olson had a pair of winners and Monaye Ramessar served an ace to complete the comeback. Raymond hit two more winners for an 18-17 Pirate lead and Rausch had a pair of big swings down the stretch as VC evened the match with a 25-21 set win.

The third set was close all the way with both teams taking turns in front. Sadie Lishman hit an ace for a 13-11 margin and kills by Olson and Rausch maintained the edge. After an 18-18 tie on Cahill's kill, the Roadrunners scored three of the next four points, eventually taking the set 25-22.

Ventura, with their backs against the wall, got off to another rocky start in the fourth set, falling behind 3-1. The Pirates trailed 8-7 before Cahill hit back-to back winners and Rausch served VC to a 13-8 lead. Cahill started another run and Olson's winner stretched the lead to 18-10. Raymond recorded consecutive blocks for a 23-14 score and the Pirates won the set 25-16.

Mierau had a pair of kills and Ramessar served an ace for a 4-2 Pirate lead early in the fifth set. COD took a 6-5 lead before Rausch hit two winners followed by a Raymond ace for an 8-6 Pirate edge. Cahill had a winner for a 10-6 advantage and Rausch's winner stretched the lead to 12-7. The Pirates closed the deal winning the fifth set, 15-10.

Cahill and Raymond each finished the game with eight kills while Ramessar and Valeria Ibarra handed out 25 and 17 assists, respectively. Shai Daniels led the defense with 29 digs and Raymond contributed eight blocks at the net. Rausch served up four aces while Ramessar and Raymond each had a pair.

The Pirates close the regular season with a pair of road games. On Wednesday Nov. 12 they travel to Los Angeles Pierce to close their Western State Conference schedule before traveling to Citrus, Antelope Valley or Bakersfield for a WSC Crossover match on Friday Nov. 14.