The VC volleyball team completed their outright Western State Conference North Division championship Wednesday with a 25-9, 25-15, 25-16 sweep of visiting Cuesta. Nevada Knowles handed out 22 assists and hit five service aces to lead the way and Kayla Murdoch had 11 kills with a .381 hitting percentage. Autumn Rojelio Moreno recorded 11 digs, Katey Mulville hit .400 with seven winners and Averi Carter accumulated four service aces in the victory for the Pirates (21-1, 9-1).
With victories at home on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Pirates reached the 20-win plateau for the fourth time since 1980 and for the first time since 2000.
Carter started the night with a service ace and Ventura built an early 15-5 advantage. Mulville scored on a tip and Knowles hit an ace for a 17-6 count and Ana Medrano's winner helped the Pirates to a 23-9 margin. Medrano finished off the first set with a pair of service aces as VC won 25-9.
A close score early in the second set gave way to another Pirate run as Carter's winner made it 13-7. Knowles hit a quick set over the net for a 15-8 lead prompting a timeout by the Cougars. Mulville and Murdoch each hit winners to close another Ventura victory, 25-15, in the second set.
VB��: Mulville hits a winner and Murdoch with the kill. @VCVolleyball takes set 2, 25-15. ��☠️leads the match 2-0. @vcscolleges @TheAcornSports @cccwvca @ventura_college pic.twitter.com/2cTA6P5QT7
— VCPirateAthletics (@VCAthletics) November 10, 2022
Ventura moved a 10-8 advantage to 16-8 with six straight winners, including a block by Mulville and Kylie Ibbotson and a Mulville winner. Murdoch's big swing made it 18-11 and Alba Romanos Garcia's block for a point pushed the set to match point. A long attack by the Cougars clinched the VC sweep, 25-16, and the Pirates celebrated the program's 12th conference title.
VB��: Alba Romanos Garcia with a block for a winner, Cuesta follows with an attack long and @VCVolleyball clinches another ��, 25-16. @vcscolleges @ventura_college @TheAcornSports @cccwvca pic.twitter.com/fey84wSCVV
— VCPirateAthletics (@VCAthletics) November 10, 2022
Brianna Morrison added three kills and two blocks to the effort for Ventura while Carter added three kills and six digs. Medrano and Ibbotson each hit a pair of service aces.
Ventura has one remaining regular season game, a WSC crossover match against WSC South champion College of the Canyons. The Pirates host the Cougars on Tuesday Nov. 15 at 6:00 pm at the Athletic Event Center.