A Heartfelt Loss

Marcela Iraheta | Staff Writer

Santa Monica College Corsairs outside hitter Natalie Fernandez, setter Mia Paulson, and middle blocker Mylah Niksa take a moment to hype each other up after a timeout during the Volleyball SoCal Regional Final against the Ventura College Pirates at Ventura College in Ventura, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. The Corsairs lost 3-0. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair opposite Zarha Stanton (right) attempting to tip the ball over the net during the Volleyball SoCal Regional Final against the Ventura College Pirates at Ventura College in Ventura, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. The Corsairs lost 3-0. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair outside hitter Natalie Fernandez bumps the ball over her head during the Volleyball SoCal Regional Final against the Ventura College Pirates at Ventura College in Ventura, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. The Corsairs lost 3-0. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs middle blocker Mylah Niksa (center) and outside hitter Natalie Fernandez attempt to block a spike by Ventura College Pirate middle hitter Brianna Morrison during the Volleyball SoCal Regional Final at Ventura College in Ventura, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. The Corsairs lost 3-0. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College women’s volleyball head coach Christian Cammayo talks to the Corsairs during a timeout during the SoCal Regional Final against the Ventura College Pirates at Ventura College in Ventura, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. The Corsairs lost 3-0. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair outside hitter Prior Borick standing back up after diving and failing to prevent the ball from hitting the ground during the Volleyball SoCal Regional Final against the Ventura College Pirates at Ventura College in Ventura, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. The Corsairs lost 3-0. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair outside hitter Prior Borick bumps the ball during the Volleyball SoCal Regional Final against the Ventura College Pirates at Ventura College in Ventura, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. The Corsairs lost 3-0. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair setter Jaylnn Fierro (right) setting the ball up for a spike during the Volleyball SoCal Regional Final against the Ventura College Pirates at Ventura College in Ventura, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. The Corsairs lost 3-0. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair outside hitter Prior Borick spikes the ball during the Volleyball SoCal Regional Final against the Ventura College Pirates at Ventura College in Ventura, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. The Corsairs lost 3-0. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

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Santa Monica College Corsair middle blocker Mika Pomerantz (left) hugs outside hitter Maiella Riva (right) after the Ventura College Pirates defeated them in the Volleyball SoCal Regional Final in Ventura, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. The Corsairs lost 3-0. It was the last game Riva would play with the Corsairs, and she says “it was a heartbreaking loss.” (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

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Santa Monica College Corsair opposite Zarha Stanton being hugged after the Ventura College Pirates defeated them in the Volleyball SoCal Regional Final in Ventura, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. The Corsairs lost 3-0. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Ventura knocks out women’s volleyball in final regional playoff.

The Santa Monica College Corsairs women’s volleyball team competed against the Ventura College Pirates for a chance to play in the state championships. The game, the third and final round of the 3C2A Southern California Regionals, took place at the Athletic Events Center in Ventura on Nov. 25. While the Corsairs played hard, it was not enough, and the game ended in a 3-0 loss for them.

The emotional night started off with the Corsairs full of energy. However, the Pirates pushed through, taking all three sets 25-21, 25-22, and 25-20, thus ending the season for the Corsairs. The tough loss ended in tears for the Corsairs as they embraced each other, taking in reality. 

The Pirates and the Corsairs faced off twice before during this season. Both games went down to the wire but ended in 3-2 losses for the Corsairs.

“It’s really tough. We've played this team really tough the last two times, both went five sets. It’s obviously a little disappointing to not get the result we wanted. This team has been an amazing team all year,” said head coach Christian Cammayo. 

The Corsairs’ incredible season ended in an overall 22-8 standing and a conference standing of 11-1, in which they shared the conference championship title with the Bakersfield College Renegades.

“We are a tight-knit program in regard to on and off the court. We spend a lot of time together. We definitely demonstrated our highest potential. We definitely could’ve gone further,” said outside hitter Natalie Fernandez.