Santa Rosa, Ca –

For the first time since 2013, the Pirates defeat Santa Rosa JC. The Bear Cubs (8-5) entered the match at No. 17 in the latest CCCWVCA State Poll. The Pirates have spent the first four weeks listed in the "Best of the Rest".

Aggressive defense, a quick middle, and strong serving were the story of the night for the Pirates. The Pirates jumped to an early 5-2 lead in set one. The Bear Cubs made their way back with an ace and tool off the outside block. Eventually, the Pirates found themselves down 19-15. Two quick attacks in the middle from Rhiannon Genilla, followed by two aces by OH Vanessa Quevedo, gave the Pirates an extra spark. Bear Cubs pushed back to keep the lead, 22-20. But the Pirates capitalized after an SRJC service error, followed by two attacking errors. Quevedo put the ball away down the line to give the Pirates set point. OH Denae Finney finished the set with an ace, Pirates win 25-22.

Pirates struggled to get started in set two. After 3 unforced errors, the Bear Cubs were up 4-1. SRJC held onto a three point lead, until the Pirates relentless defense gave them the emotional boost they needed. L Angel Nguyen worked for 8 of her 19 total digs in set two. After a deep corner kill from S Ambria Schneringer, Finney would return to the service line and the Pirates took control and went on a 9-2 scoring run. The Pirates had their best attacking efficiency as a team with 14 kills on 34 attempts and 4 errors (.294%). Pirates win the set, 25-17.

Set three was a major Pirate comeback. The Bear Cubs, behind tough serving and unforced errors by the Pirates, had a 6 point advantage at 15-9. Pirates would get back 2 with an SRJC attack error and kill by Schneringer. SRJC goes up 17-11 with a kill from the middle and a block. The teams trade kills, SRJC up 18-12. Bear Cubs commit a serving error and send Quevedo back to the service line. Quevedo gets some points back with 2 aces. Bear Cubs with a kill, ace, then serving error, hold on to the lead at 20-17. A serving substitution by the Pirates, Annalise Workman serves short forcing an overpass which is put away by MB Sara Gonzalez. Bear Cubs answer with a kill down the line. Pirates return with a solo block by Gonzalez, followed by an ace by Opp Vanessa Benham. MJC now down 20-21, SRJC calls timeout. Right out of the time out, Gonzalez makes a smart shot to the deep corner to tie things up.  Next point, Finney gets a wide open net and puts the ball away down the line. Bear Cubs answer back with a kill and two aces of their own, getting them to set point, 24-22. Bear Cubs commit an attacking error, Finney back to serve. After another SRJC attacking error, score is tied 24-24, Bear Cubs take their second time out. Finney serves tough, SRJC overpasses again with Schneringer waiting and she smashes the overpass back. Pirates now at match point. Benham would get a dig from the SRJC middle attack, Schneringer pushes the ball to the outside pin, Quevedo waiting and drives the ball to the floor against the Bear Cubs defense. Pirates win, 26-24.

The Pirates improve to 3-3 Big 8, 8-5 overall.

UPNEXT: Pirates have a home match on Thursday 10/4 versus the No. 8 ranked Sierra College Wolverines. Match begins at 6:00 pm.