![VC freshman Josephine Rausch (10) had 7 digs and nine kills as the Pirates defeated Santa Barbara in four sets Tuesday at the Athletic Event Center. (photo by Larry Gleeson)](/sports/wvball/2024-25/photos/20241112-SBCC-Cover.jpg?max_width=450)
The VC women's volleyball team began the final week of the regular season Tuesday with a convincing four-set victory over visiting Santa Barbara. In the match rescheduled from Nov. 6, the Pirates captured the first two sets, 25-19 and 25-20 before falling in the third, 22-25. Ventura (13-9, 7-4) clinched the win taking the fourth set, 25-21. Shai Daniels' double-double of 15 kills and 21 digs led the way for the Pirates and Daphne Raymond recorded 10 winners at the net. Josephine Rausch narrowly missed a double-double with 27 digs and nine kills.
Winners from Natalie Bair, Raymond and Rausch, and an ace from Bryce Swain put the Pirates ahead 7-6 early. SBCC rebounded, however, togo ahead 14-12. Daniels had a kill to keep VC to within 17-16 and Raymond's swing tied the first set a 17. Taylor Lane put Ventura ahead on the next point as VC outscored Santa Barbara 8-1 down the stretch. Raymond's block on set point gave Ventura the 25-18 win.
SBCC led 6-4 when Talia Behrens got things going, hitting a pair of winners for a 9-6 VC advantage. The Vaqueros fought back to 12-12 before Rauch's successful swing made it 17-15 for VC. Callie Cahill and Raymond hit back-to-back winners for a 21-17 lead and an SB service error put the Pirates at set point, 24-20. Cahill had the kill on the next point to give Ventura the commanding two-set lead, 25-20 in the second.
The Pirates fell behind in the third set by scores of 3-0 and 6-3. Cahill hit a kill to pull Ventura to within 11-10 and Bair's winner made it 13-12 for SBCC. VC caught the Vaqueros at 14-14 and Behren's kill at the net gave VC a 17-15 margin. Liz Schalde, Rausch and Daniels all had winners for a 20-18 Ventura lead before SB tied things up at 21. The Vaqueros scored four of the final five points of the set to take it 25-22, cutting into the Pirates' match lead.
Raymond and Behrens scored early for Ventura in the fourth set, and an ace by Schalde gave the Pirates a 5-2 edge.Daniel's kill made it 8-3 before SBCC came back scoring the next three points. Daniels continued her hot streak with another pair of winners for a 15-9 lead, and Ventura worked the margin all the way up to 19-10. SBCC scored five straight before Rausch ended the VC skid with two winners and a block. Daniels' kill pushed Ventura to match point, and she finished the job with a winner for the 25-21 clincher.
VB��: #14 Daniels seals it with a winner! Pirates win it 25-21, 3 sets to 1. @vcscolleges @TheAcornSports @cccwvca pic.twitter.com/c7HQdqNLjI
— VCPirateAthletics (@VCAthletics) November 13, 2024
Bair and Schalde recorded 21 and 18 assists, respectively and Swain had 13 digs on defense. Lane had a great night with seven blocks while Behrens and Raymond each recorded four.
The Pirates will close the regular season with a pair of home matches. VC will host Los Angeles Pierce on Friday Nov. 15 at 6:00 pm in the final Western State Conference North Division game before playing host to a "to be determined" WSC South team on Saturday Nov. 16 at 2:00 pm.