The VC volleyball team dropped its Western State Conference match against Moorpark Friday at the Athletic Event Center, 25-22, 2517, 25-15. Makena Schaumloeffel helped lead the Pirate attack with six kills and six digs while Shai Daniels hit four winners with a team-high 11 digs. Callie Cahill also hit six kills for VC (7-6 (1-1)).
The opening set started out nip-and-tuck as the teams battled to an 8-8 tie early. The Raiders then scored four of the next five points for a 12-9 advantage before Ventura came storming back. Schaumloeffel and Cahill each had winners to put the Pirates ahead 18-16. Moorpark responded in kind, however, with five straight winners for a 2118 edge. VC kept up the fight with Taylor Lane scoring with a kill for a 23-22 deficit before the Raiders took the set, 25-22.
Daphne Raymond started the second set with a winner, then she and Cahill combined on a block for a 4-2 VC margin. The set went back-and-forth with MC winning four straight for an 11-9 lead before Schaumloeffel hit two winners to knot the score. After a 12-12 tie, the Raiders moved ahead, however, and the Pirates could not sustain any momentum in falling in the set, 25-17.
Ventura, once again, held an early advantage in the third set. Bryce Swain hit a pair of service aces for a 9-6 lead. Moorpark tied things up at 11 when Schaumloeffel had another kill to put the Pirates back on top. Natalie Bair's ace made it 14-12 for the Pirates before Moorpark took control, winning the set and clinching the match 25-15.
Raymond ended the match wit three kills and three block assists while Bair had seven digs and eight assists. Skylar Rutherford handed out seven helpers for VC.
The road continues for Ventura as they will next host highly-ranked Los Angeles Mission on Wednesday Oct. 9 at 6:00 pm.