HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - After many months of grueling training in the sand, the Vanguard Beach Volleyball team opened their 2020 season with a home tri-match against Saint Katherine University and Loyola Marymount University. The Lions (1-1) swept the Firebirds (0-2) in straight pairs before losing all five matchups with the LMU Lions (2-1).
"It was so fun to be out there and to have so much support from students and other athletes," exclaimed Karly Cantu (SR/Spokane, WA). "We have so many new people so it was awesome to finally compete together."
Vanguard 5, Saint Katherine 0
The pairing of Gabby Morrison (JR/Paso Robles, CA) and Conley Harris (SO/Brea, CA) hit the sand together for the first time in competition and walked off with a 21-17, 21-14 victory over the Firebirds top pair. Kolby Bird (JR/San Diego, CA) and Kelli Dowell (SR/Redlands, CA), another new pairing from a year ago, cruised to a 21-6 victory in the first set and held on for a 21-16 win in the second. On court three, Shay Larsen-Piper (JR), who played on the Lions indoor team for four years, teamed up with Kayla Tinker (SR/San Clemente, CA) for a 19-21, 21-15, 15-13 win. Eliana Johnson (JR/Scottsdale, AZ) and Cantu, who are a returning pairing, won 24-22, 21-16. Emilee Hall (FR/Redondo Beach, CA) and Sydney Irwin (FR/Moorpark, CA) who are both incoming freshmen to the product, earned their first collegiate wins by 21-18, 21-7 counts. In the exhibition matchup, Karli Burk (JR/Yucaipa, CA) and Mackenzie Mitchell (JR/Costa Mesa, CA) won in matching 21-18, 21-18 scores.
Loyola Marymount 5, Vanguard 0
In the showdown between each of the top pairings for both Lions' squads, LMU was victorious 15-21, 9-21 over Morrison and Harris. Over on court two, Bird and Dowell lost narrowly 21-23 in the first set before dropping the clincher 15-21. The third pairing, featuring Piper and Tinker was bested 17-21, 15-21. Johnson and Cantu were swept by 13-21, 8-21 scores. Hall and Irwin, playing only their second collegiate match, fell 10-21, 13-21 and in the exhibition pairing, Burk and Mitchell lost by 11-21 and 16-21 counts.
Next Match: Saturday, February 22nd against Cal State University - Bakersfield at 12:00 p.m.
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