The road was not kind to the Ventura College volleyball team Friday. Perhaps weary from the long trip to San Diego, the Pirates dropped a pair of road matches at Grossmont and San Diego Mesa. VC (2-2) was swept by the Griffins before battling back to fall 3-1 in a close match at Mesa. Braxton Jessie had 14 kills and 21 digs in the two contests in her hometown. Rachel Howery handed out 35 assists in the two matches.
Ventura 0, Grossmont 3 (25-23, 25-16, 25-21)
The Pirates were not at their best after the long drive south from Ventura for the noon match.
The score was close throughout the first set, with the Pirates holding a 20-18 advantage following a service ace by Howery. Grossmont came back, however, and was able to close out the Pirates 25-23.
VC held a 4-3 lead in the second before giving up six straight points, allowing the Griffins to take control. With the score 17-12, Grossmont reeled off another five winners to put the set out of reach. Ventura fell in the second 25-16.
The Pirates played from behind for most of the decisive set, trailing 19-13 at one point before falling 25-21.
Jessie had seven kills, five digs and an ace while Armonee Hunter put away six kills. Howery had 11 assists in the loss.
Ventura 1, San Diego Mesa 3 (25-14, 22-25, 26-24, 25-17)
VC still could not find its road legs in the first set against the Olympians, falling 25-14. They came back to make a match of it, however, taking the second set 25-23 before falling in the third 26-24. Mesa closed out VC in the fourth set by a count of 25-17.
Paris Dosch had eight kills, three digs and a pair of aces in the match while Jessie had seven kills and 16 digs. Howery recorded 24 assists and Mikayla Spears had 19 assists. Sariah Flores had a great defensive effort with 39 digs.
The Pirates remain in the San Diego area with a pair of matches at Imperial Valley on Saturday Sept. 3. The will play Arizona Western first before taking on the host Arabs. They will return home to battle the Cal Lutheran JV team on Friday Sept. 9.