![VC freshman Josephine Rausch (10) had eight kills, 17 digs and four services aces Wednesday against Pasadena. Shown here, she served nine straight winners in the second set supported by teammates (from left) Talia Behrens (15), Viola Barrios (16), Makena Schaumloeffel (9) and Bryce Swain (1).](/sports/wvball/2023-24/photos/20240828-PCC-Cover.jpg?max_width=450)
In an early Top-10 match-up, the young Pirate volleyball team, ranked No. 8 in the state, fell to No. 9 Pasadena 25-20, 22-25, 25-19, 25-17 Wednesday at the Athletic Event Center. Josephine Rausch led the Pirates with eight kills, 17 digs and four service aces. She served nine straight winners at one point during the second set. Talia Behrens was also solid at the net with 11 kills with a .375 hitting percentage with four blocks. Skylar Rutherford contributed 17 assists and 11 digs to the Pirate effort.
Makena Schaumloeffel and Rausch sandwiched kills around a block by Callie Cahill to even the score at 11-11 in the first set and the Pirates continued strong play at the net to take a 17-15 lead. Pasadena responded by winning nine of the next 11 points, however, and the Lancers prevailed in the first set, 25-20.
In the second set, VC turned a 4-3 deficit to a 13-4 advantage behind the Rausch's serve. Behrens had a pair of kills during the run, augmented by a Schaumloeffel kill and a block from Viola Barrios. Rausch also hit a pair of aces in the run before PCC scored six of the next seven points to jump back into the set. Liz Schalde served three consecutive winners for an 18-10 margin and Behrens delivered the winner at set point for a 25-22 Pirate win to even the match.
Schaumloeffel and Taylor Lane each recorded kills early in the third set for a 4-1 Pirate advantage. Cahill and Barrios followed with winners and Behrens completed a pair of points to maintain VC's 9-6 margin. Schaumloeffel scored with a service ace to put Ventura ahead 14-11 before the Lancers went on a 10-1 run to take control of the set, taking the lead in the match with a 25-19 set victory.
An even set early in the fourth evolved into an 11-6 PCC advantage. The Pirates kept up the fight, but were unable to close the gap as Pasadena closed out the match with a 25-17 triumph, taking the victory 3-1.
Ventura has little time to regroup as they will next travel to No. 14 Orange Coast on Friday Aug. 30 before hosting State No. 1 and defending state champion San Diego Mesa on Saturday Aug. 31 at 3:00 pm.