Both duos representing VC beach volleyball advanced to the Round of 16 in play at the 3C2A State Pairs Tournament Friday at West Valley College. Autumn Rojelio and Bryce Swain went undefeated in pool play to move to Saturday's bracket play while Kylie Ibbotson and Alba Romanos Gracia placed second in their pool to qualify for the State Sweet 16.
Rojelio and Swain, playing in Pool 2 in the morning rounds, produced three victories to move forward in the tournament. They edged Miramar's No. 2 duo 21-13, 19-21, 15-13, in the first contest of the day before coming back to defeat San Diego Mesa's No. 2 team, 21-15, 18-21, 15-10. They captured a sweeping win over a pair from Sierra 21-12, 21-12 to place first in the pool.
Ibbotson and Romanos Gracia, meanwhile, moved to the Round of 16 by navigating Pool 8's tiebreaking process. They opened the day capturing the first set against a team from Mt. San Jacinto before falling 19-21, 21-16, 15-9. They responded with a huge sweep over a team from Hartnell, 21-19, 21-13. In their final match of the day, Ventura's No. 2 pair won the first set once again before losing a heartbreaker in three sets to a duo from American River, 22-24, 21-17, 15-9. However, the Pirates were tied with two other teams for second in the pool, and, by virtue of sets won and lost, advanced to Saturday's matches.
Ibbotson and Romanos-Gracia will begin bracket play Saturday at 10:00 am against Feather River's No. 1 pair while Rojelio and Swain open play at 11:00 am against Santa Barbara's No. 1 team.