San Marcos girls beach volleyball came away with a 4-1 victory over Ventura High in a battle of the top two Channel League squads on Tuesday in Santa Barbara.
The Royals are now 20-2 overall and 10-0 against Channel League opponents with two more league contests remaining.
At the ones, San Marcos’ Cora Loomer and Evyn Miller played a clean match en route to a 21-12, 21-19 win.
“The Ventura pair really picked up their play in the second game, leading 12-9 at the technical time out. From there, Cora and Evyn tightened up their play, passing cleanly and siding out consistently,” San Marcos head coach Tim Loomer said.
“They controlled the final few points of the game, earning the win on a block at the net. That style of play is what will be needed in the next part of the season.”
Paige Hoadley and Char Hastings picked up the next win on the No. 3 court in two sets, 21-12, 21-14.
“It was a strong match for Hoadley and Hastings. They dictated the tempo from beginning to end, playing some very clean volleyball,” Tim Loomer said.
At the fours, Jeannie Johnson and Kelsie Rowe took down their opponents in straight sets, 22-20, 21-13. Rio Chesluk and Malia Hetrick put the finishing touches on the win with a 21-13, 21-17 victory at the fives.
“[Johnson/Rowe] overcame a bit of a slow start in game one, playing really well through the finish of the first game and through the second,” Tim Loomer said.
“Chesluk and Hetrick came to the match with a plan and executed on it, taking down an athletic Ventura 5s pair. Chesluk and Hetrick have been working on their offense and the progress was obvious in the match today.”
The Royals will be on the road against Oxnard High on Thursday.
Dos Pueblos 5, Oxnard 0
The Chargers improved to .500 in league play with a sweep of the Yellow Jackets on Tuesday in Oxnard.
The Dos Pueblos No. 1 duo of Allie Ben-Yaacov and Char Welch set the tone with a 21-17, 21-19 victory.
Ruby Dunlop and Gia Haas battled to a three-set victory for the Chargers at the No. 2 court, pulling away for a dominant win in the third set, 21-8, 19-21, 15-2.
The No. 3 Dos Pueblos duo of Faith Harrison and Kyra Sample bounced back from a first-set loss to earn their victory in three, 16-21, 21-16, 15-6.
Mia Taylor and Marley Wilcher cruised to their win in straight sets at the fours, 21-12, 21-19, as did the No. 5 Chargers Arthena Bardakos and Moana Martinez for a 21-11, 21-13 win.
Dos Pueblos (7-9, 5-5 Channel League) will host Rio Mesa on Thursday.
Santa Barbara High 5, Buena 0
The Dons rolled to a Channel League sweep of their own against the Bulldogs on Tuesday at East Beach.
“We had a few girls out today, so we had some new pairings. The girls did a great job adjusting and communicating with some new partners, and playing with solid ball control in a bit of wind,” Santa Barbara High head coach Kristin Hempy said.
Lola Heckman and Paylin Marcillac of the Dons paired up for the ones and earned a 21-17, 21-12 win. Meanwhile, Blake Saunders and Stella Marcillac took care of business at court two, 21-11, 21-13.
“[Heckman/P. Marcillac] communicated well and worked out a good offensive strategy to get the win,” Hempy said. “Strong serving and hitting dominated [the No. 2] matchup.”
At the threes, Santa Barbara High’s Grace Costner and Talia Yoshimi came together for a 21-17, 21-15 victory, while the No. 4 SB duo of Phoebe Peterson and Gabby Cajuste kept it rolling, 21-8, 21-9. Delilah Ficker and Naomi Rowan then capped off the sweep with a 21-12, 21-13 win.
“Grace and Tali had great energy together today,” Hempy said. “[Peterson/Cajuste] had sharp ball control and shots today. [Ficker/Rowan] looked strong and in control this whole match.”
The Dons (11-7, 7-3 Channel League) will take on Thousand Oaks in a non-league match on Wednesday.