It was sophomore night for Ventura College, and the Pirates volleyball team did not disappoint in the last home for two players’ careers, sweeping the Oxnard College Condors (25-16, 25-21, 25-11) Thursday night at Ventura.
Sophomores Justine O’Connor and Elizabeth Gates were honored before the game for the two years they made a name for themselves at Ventura.
The two certainly had stellar careers for the Pirates, with O’Connor receiving 2nd-team all-WSC honors last year, as well as being second on the team in kill percentage and digs, and first in assists. Gates is first on the team in kill percentage for the Pirates this season.
The Pirates made sure they would not let down their sophomore players, but did struggle early in the first two sets. There were great rallies by both teams, and the first set featured a back-and-forth battle before the Pirates took an 11-9 lead.
After taking a two-point lead, the Pirates (10-10, 5-4 WSC) pulled away from the Condors (5-10, 0-8), which was sparked by an 8-0 run to take a commanding 20-11 lead, before taking the set 25-16.
The second set proved to be a big test for the Pirates, as the Condors took a quick 2-0 lead, and score four of the first five points of the set. It was 15-11 before the Pirates cut the lead to one, and Taylor Edsell’s ace tied the set at 18, and the Pirates took their first lead at 19-18. Another Edsell ace gave the Pirates their biggest lead of the set at 21-18, and a Condor service fault completed the comeback, as the Pirates won the second set 25-21.
After a struggle to take the second set, the Pirates made sure they would complete the sweep, starting off the set strong by taking a 4-0 lead. The Pirates lead by as many as 13 points, before completing the sweep, decisively taking the third set 25-11.
Pirate head coach Mandy Arnold-Rodriguez believed her team played well despite struggling to find a rhythm in the first two sets.
“I was happy with the way the girls played,” she said. “I think we had really good hitting, especially from our outside hitters.”
The Pirates complete their regular season with a trip to Santa Barbara City College on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
Coach Arnold-Rodriguez believes that if the Pirates minimize their errors, they can beat the first-place Vaqueros, who would share the WSC title with the Moorpark College Raiders if they lose to the Pirates.
“I think that we are going to have to eliminate our small errors,” she said. “A team like that is going to capitalize off those [errors].”
