After a slow start in the opening set, the Ventura College volleyball team outscored host Pasadena 70-68 over the final three sets, but unfortunately dropped two of the three in their 25-13, 25-23, 18-25, 25-22 loss against the Lancers Wednesday at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium. Nevada Knowles had another all-around solid game with a triple-double of 18 kills, 14 assists and 14 digs to lead the Pirates (3-2).
The Pirates came out slow in the opening set, allowing a 9-1 run by PCC as the Lancers took a 17-8 advantage midway through. VC dropped the opener 25-13.
Pasadena continued the pace in to the second set, taking a 21-13 lead before VC showed signs of life. The Pirates closed to within 22-21 with an 8-1 run powered by kills from Alexis Baloyo, Knowles and Averi Carter, but they could not sustain the momentum, falling behind 2-0 with a 25-23 setback.
It was all Ventura in the third as Knowles, Katey Mulville and Victoria Whitney led the Pirates to leads of 14-6 and 21-13. Knowles assisted the final two winners to kills by Darynne Bickers as VC climbed back into the match with a 25-18 win.
The Pirates led 10-6 in the fourth set after a kill from Carter, and they held on at 13-11, looking to go the distance, but PCC was able to turn things around. The Lancers took the lead for good at 17-16 and, although the VC kept things close, Pasadena won the set 25-22, claiming the match in four.
Faith Carillo handed out 24 assists with 10 digs defensively while Baloyo and Carter each recorded seven kills. The pair also added 12 and 10 digs, respectively, to the defensive effort. Mulville had five assisted blocks and Knowles totaled four in the narrow defeat.