WOMEN’S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP

Ventura def. Irvine Valley, 15-13, 15-12, 14-16, 10-15, 15-13--It was the same teams, the same location, but a different result.

This time it was as close as the teams’ records and seedings would indicate.

When it was over, nearly three hours after it started, the Pirates advanced to the state tournament at Stockton. It will be Ventura’s first appearance in the state tournament in Coach Miki McFadden’s seven seasons as coach.

“Making the state tournament is a goal we’ve been working toward,” McFadden said. “We’ve been kind of up and down this season and that’s kind of how this match went.

“If you win, you win and that’s it. We tried to give it away a few times, but I’m so proud of the girls. We just hung in there. In a match like this, a win is a win.”

Irvine Valley beat Ventura in four games in the regional last season.

The Pirates (18-3) had their chances to end the match in three games, leading, 14-9, before Irvine Valley (18-4) responded with seven consecutive points to send it to a fourth game.

It was 10-10 in the fourth game when Irvine Valley finished it off with five consecutive points to pull even.

Irvine had the early advantage in the fifth game, which was played under rally scoring, building a 6-1 lead, only to have Ventura take a 10-9 lead.

The teams traded the lead until Camille Robles of Irvine Valley hit her return into the net to give Ventura the victory.