NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Less than 24 hours after securing a sweep on the sands of Huntington Beach, the Lions drove north to take on CSUN and for a grudge match against Missouri State. Vanguard had defeated the Bears the day before, earning their first victory over an NCAA Division I program. During today's road trip, they ended up on the wrong end of matches against MSU and CSUN.
Missouri State 5, Vanguard 0
All but one of the 10 pairings was the same from the match the previous day, but this time the result favored the Bears as they secured their sweep of their inaugural season. The first flight to go final featured Gabby Morrison (SO/Paso Robles, CA) and Charity Dennis (SR/Cypress, CA) who were defeated by 21-12, 21-17 scores. Eliana Johnson (SO/Scottsdale, AZ) and Karly Cantu (JR/Spokane, WA), the fourth pairing for VU, were bested by 21-8, 21-11 counts. Brooke Wilsman (SR/Lakeland, FL) and Dani Erdelatz (JR/Stockton, CA) were knocked off 21-11, 21-8 to secure the victory for MSU. Kelli Dowell (SR/Redlands, CA) and Hannah Holder (JR/Irvine, CA) in the first pairing lost 24-22 in the first set and 21-11 in the clincher. Rounding out play was Mackenzie Mitchell (SO/Costa Mesa, CA) and Kayla Darm (FR/San Juan Capistrano, CA) who lost 21-19, 21-9.
CSUN 4, Vanguard 1
The Lions took on the Matadors for the second time this season, previously losing 0-5. In the first pairing to finish, the fourth flight, Nicole Nevarez and Lexi McLeod defeated the pairing of Johnson and Cantu by 21-16,21-12 counts. Darbi Honeycutt and Mikela Maughan knocked off Morrison and Dennis in three sets: 16-21, 21-11, 15-10. Kailey Klein and Cassidy Rosso defeated the fifth pairing for VU Darm and Mitchell to clinch the victory for CSUN. Erdeltaz and Wilsman fell 21-19 in the first set before winning 21-14 in the second frame. But Taylor Brydon and Lauren McMurray outlasted the Blue and Gold 15-11 in the final points. The team loss did not stop Dowell and Holder from battling to a 21-19, 21-23, 17-15 victory over Daniella Molinari and Seyvon Waggoner.
Next Match: Friday, March 22 against Loyola Marymount (10:00 a.m.) and CUI (2:00 p.m.) at the OC Great Park.
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