Just 48 hours after playing Saddleback to a 5-set win, the Pirate volleyball team extended Santa Monica to five sets Friday, dropping a heartbreaker to the Corsairs 25-17, 25-22, 33-35, 25-27, 15-12. Daphne Raymond had 13 kills with a .321 hitting percentage while Callie Cahill recorded 10 winners while hitting .333. Shai Daniels barely missed a double-double with nine kills and 18 digs and Talia Behrens recorded 12 winners. Taylor Lane had five blocks at the net and Natalie Bair handed out 24 assists in the balanced team effort.
Ventura (4-5) opened the road match slowly, falling in he first set 25-15. The Corsairs took complete control of things by winning the second set, 25-22.
The match took a wild turn in the third as the Pirates stayed alive with a 25-33 set victory. They then went to extra play again in the fourth set, extending the match with a 27-25 win.
In the decisive fifth set, VC held a 7-4 advantage before service errors and other misplays prevented the reverse sweep, handing SMC the clincher 15-12.
Skylar Rutherford handed out 21 assists and Bryce Swain totaled 17 digs. Makena Schaumloeffel added 13 digs to the defensive effort.
VC returns home on Wednesday Sept. 25, hosting Bakersfield at 6:00 pm.