The Pirates beach volleyball team wrapped up their season opening road stint with two wins Friday against Palomar, 4-1, and host Golden West, 5-0, in Huntington Beach. Ventura's Nos. 2, 3 and 4 pairs, Talia Behrens and Sadie Lishman, Josephine Rausch and Giannamay Tayco, and Skylar Rutherford and Lexi Brinkman all won two matches on the day.
In the opener, Ventura's No. 1 pair of Shai Daniels and Viola Barrios lost a nail-biter in three sets with a two-point differential each game. Otherwise, the Pirates swept through Palomar in straight sets, including Addison Olsen and Olivia Brown's debut as a pair at No. 5, winning 21-13, 21-19.
In the second match, the Pirates played Golden West, a team they defeated 4-1 to open the season on Jan. 31. Behrens and Lishman battled back after dropping the first set to win the second and third sets 21-15 and 15-11, respectively. at the No. 2 spot, avenging their loss to the same team. The remaining Pirates all won in straight sets, lifting VC to a 6-1 record.
VC will open its home schedule at Ventura Harbor Cove Beach on Friday Feb. 28. The Pirates host Desert and Mt. San Jacinto beginning at 10:00 am.
Ventura 4, Palomar 1
1. Shai Daniels/Viola Barrios (VC) lost to Janell Spires/Emma Bambe (PC), 21-19, 21-23, 16-14
2. Talia Behrens/Sadie Lishman (VC) def.Brisa Necochea/Kylana Madayag (PC), 21-16, 21-17
3. Josephine Rausch/Giannamay Tayco (VC) def. Kaia Lam/Cadence Young (PC), 21-12, 21-15
4. Skylar Rutherford/Lexi Brinkman (VC) def. Bailey Prieto/Teiora Tinoisamoa (PC), 21-12, 21-16
5. Olivia Brown/Addison Olsen (VC) def. Claire Henderson/Sierra Schoenwald (PC), 21-13, 21-19
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 4, 1, 5
Ventura 5, Golden West 0
1. Shai Daniels/Viola Barrios (VC) def. Hayden Johnson/Maren Matthews (GWC), 21-10, 22-20
2. Talia Behrens/Sadie Lishman (VC) def. Cassandra Zoellers/Jenna Zaffino (GWC), 18-21, 21-15, 15-11
3. Josephine Rausch/Giannamay Tayco (VC) def. #3/Jalissa Costa (GWC), 21-15, 21-13
4. Skylar Rutherford/Lexi Brinkman (VC) def. Fabiana Padilla/Lola Larson (GWC), 21-15, 21-8
5. Liz Schalde/Daphne Raymond (VC) def. Shea Carroll/ #8 (GWC), 21-11, 26-24
Order of Finish: 3, 4, 2, 1, 5