The Ventura College women's water polo team won a pair of games Friday at the San Diego Tournament hosted by Miramar College. The Pirates (7-4, 0-1) defeated Southwestern 15-10 and Saddleback 15-4 to advance to Saturday's championship group in the pool. Cali Iadevaia scored eight goals in the two games while Drew Reyes had a pair of scores with seven assists and seven steals. Shayle Barrus guarded the cage with 17 saves in four quarters of play in the two contests.
Ventura 15, Southwestern 10
VC rallied from a 7-3 deficit with 3:13 remaining in the second quarter, beginning the rally with three goals in the final 1:22 of the half. The Pirates outscored the Jaguars 9-2 over the final 16 minutes to post the tournament-opening win. Iadevaia netted four goals with an assist and a drawn ejection in the contest while Reyes contributed a score with five assists and five steals defensively. Raylynn Lipsky, Abby Coker, Sierra Cameron, Lindsey Valdez and Leanna Ramirez all scored twice for a balanced VC attack. Barrus turned back eight shots with three steals while assisting two goals as goalie for VC in two quarters of play.
Ventura 15, Saddleback 5
The Pirates jumped all over the Gauchos early with a 9-2 first quarter lead. It was smooth sailing the rest of the way for VC in their 15-5 victory. Iadevaia was the standard offensively once again with four goals and Shaeleigh Russell, Masiel Martinez and Ramirez all found the cage three times. Lauren Mora, Russell, Reyes and Lipsky each handed out a pair of assists for Ventura. Barrus recorded nine saves in goal while Phoebe Murtishaw turned back seven Gaucho shots.
Ventura advances to the championship group on Saturday Oct. 5, facing Cypress at 8:00 am and Sierra at 11:30 am in San Diego.