HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – The Lions hosted a tri-match against Golden State Athletic Conference rivals OUAZ and Hope International. Vanguard (9-9) split on the day falling to OUAZ in the morning before regrouping and beating HIU in the nightcap. The loss to the Spirit broke the Pride's six game NAIA win streak.
OUAZ 5, Vanguard 0
The first dual to go final was the exhibition matchup featuring Mackenzie Mitchell (SO/Costa Mesa, CA) and Angel Carroll (SO/Roy, WA), who fell to the Spirit 8-21 and 11-21. Pairing four was the next to finish as Kayla Darm (FR/San Juan Capistrano, CA) and Eliana Johnson (SO/Scottsdale, AZ) were defeated 18-21 in the first set, came back to win 21-14 in the second before ultimately falling 7-15 in the clincher. Pairing number two also went the distance as Gabby Morrison (SO/Paso Robles, CA) and Karly Cantu (JR/Spokane, WA) were bested 19-21 in the opener, fought back to a 21-9 victory in the second and was knocked off 11-15 in the final set, which secured the match victory for the Spirit. Charity Dennis (SR/Cypress, CA) and Aubryn Coale, the fifth flight, were bested in straight sets 18-21, 13-21. In the match up if number ones, Kelli Dowell (SR/Redlands, CA) and Hannah Holder (JR/Irvine, CA) were on the wrong side of the scoreboard with scores of 10-21, 18-21. Rounding out play was Brooke Wilsman (SR/Lakeland, FL) and Dani Erdelatz (JR/Stockton, CA) who were bested by 17-21, 13-21 counts.
Vanguard 4, Hope International 1
In the second game of the day, the Lions flipped the script earning a resounding victory. Johnson and Darm got the ball rolling with a 22-20, 21-14 victory in the fourth flight. Cantu and Morrison took the battle of the second pairs with 21-13, 21-19 scores. Coale and Dennis assured the match victory for the Blue and Gold with a 21-18, 21-12 tally. On the top court, Dowell and Holder rebounded with a 21-12, 21-19 victory. The final pairing of the double header was Erdelatz and Wilsman who were bested 21-16, 25-23.
Next Match: Wednesday, April 3 against Hope International at 10:00 a.m. in Huntington Beach.
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