
The VC volleyball team extended their stay in South Orange County as long as possible Wednesday night, defeating Saddleback in an epic five-set match, 15-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-19, 15-13 in Mission Viejo. Shai Daniels had a double-double with 14 kills, 14 digs and six service aces to lead the way while Callie Cahill recorded 10 winners. Skylar Rutherford handed out 18 assists with 12 digs for VC (4-4) and Makena Schaumloeffel picked up 25 digs defensively. Taylor Lane had eight blocks at the net for the Pirates.
Ventura was limited to four kills and committed six hitting errors and five service errors in dropping the opening set 25-15.
The Pirates came back strong, however, in the second set, eliminating all of their hitting errors and serving up six aces in evening the match 25-17.
The third set went down to the wire as the Bobcats prevailed 25-23 before the Ventura defense upped the energy with six blocks in the fourth set for a 25-19 triumph.
The decisive set wa close all the way through with neither team managing more than a two-point lead throughout. The Pirates turned an 8-7 defecit midway through the set to a 15-13 win to clinch the match.
VC next travels to Santa Monica on Friday Sept. 20.