The VC beach volleyball team had an undefeated day Friday on the first day of the Southern California Pairs Tournament at El Camino College in Torrance. The Pirate teams of Kayla Murdoch and Autumn Rojelio Moreno, Ashley Johnson and Olivia Sletten, and Averi Carter and Katey Mulville each won their two matches on Friday moving into SoCal's Elite Eight and Qualifying for next week's CCCAA State Pairs Tournament.
Johnson and Sletten got the day started right with a narrow 21-19, 19-21, 16-14 victory over Long Beach's No. 2 pair in a rematch from Tuesday's regional playoff. Murdoch and Rojelio followed with a thrilling 21-18, 18-21, 15-12 triumph over a team from San Diego Miramar. Carter and Mulville wanted no part of a close match like their teammates and completed the first round sweep for the Pirates by defeating the No. 2 pair from Saddleback, 21-13, 21-10.
As in the first round, Johnson and Sletten were up first for Ventura in the Round of 16. As if one close match were not enough, the Pirate duo came from behind and took down the No. 1 team from San Diego Mesa 16-21, 21-15, 17-15. Murdoch and Rojelio had an easier time against the No. 2 pair from Irvine Valley, moving to the Elite Eight with a 21-17, 24-22 victory. Finally, Carter and Mulville finished the perfect day with a 21-18, 21-14 triumph over the No. 1 pair from El Camino.
While each of the Pirates' teams have qualified for state, there will still be plenty of work to do on Saturday May 6 in Torrance. Each duo will play three matches at El Camino College to determine their seeding headed to next week's pairs tournament and each team is three wins away from the Southern California pairs championship.
3 VC Pairs in the TOP 8 OF SOCAL!!! LETS GOOOOO!!! ����☠️ #GoPirates #WePlayHard @VCAthletics pic.twitter.com/sNAJLmgM0N
— VC Volleyball (@VCVolleyball) May 5, 2023