The rains subsided overnight and the sun peaked through the clouds Friday, making for a nice day for volleyball at the Harbor Cove Courts at the Ventura Marina. The Pirate beach volleyball team, hosting a five-match Western State Conference schedule, split a pair of contests on the day. In the morning competition, VC (7-6, 2-2) lost a closely fought 3-2 decision to Moorpark before coming back in the afternoon match to sweep Victor Valley 5-0. Taylor Benitez-Fanslow and Shea Mckeown at No. 3, and Carina Cates and Danielle Garcia at No. 5 both were double winners on the day.
The early match with Moorpark came down to the wire. VC easily won points at No. 3 with Bentitez-Fanslow and Mckeown winning 21-10 and 21-11, and at No. 5 with Cates and garcia prevailing 21-14, 22-20. The Raiders countered with wins at Nos. 1 and 4, leaving the match to come down to the No. 2 slot. Armonee Hunter and Kasie Spencer found themselves down after the first set, and were trailing in the second before they came back with four straight points to force extra play, winning the second set, 23-21. The Third and deciding set was razor close. It went back and forth with ties at 5-5 and 10-10. The raiders finally took control late, winning the set 15-11, and taking the match 3-2.
In the afternoon, the Pirates came back to sweep victor Valley, 5-0. Benitez-Fanslow and Mckeown won at No. 3, 21-10, 21-7, while Cates and Garcia won at No. 5, 21-3, 21-10. Braxton Jessie and Janessa Simental triumphed at No. 1, 21-8, 21-14 and Hunter and Spencer won the No. 2 slot, 21-12, 22-20. Finally, Sofia Gomez and Jordan Neria came from down a set to win at no. 4, 17-21, 21-8, 15-11.
VC will have a weekend off before returning to the courts on Friday April 6. They will host matches against Antelope Valley and Bakersfield at the Ventura Marina at 9:00 am and 1:00 pm, respectively.