Costa Mesa -- Vanguard University women's volleyball got back on the court Friday night on the road against Life Pacific. Despite the Lions taking set one by a dominating margin of 25-11, the Warriors fought back to take the match in four sets, posting scores of 25-22, 25-15, and 25-13. VU falls to 10-8 overall and 5-7 in the Golden State Athletic Conference. Life Pacific goes to 14-7 overall and 7-5 in the GSAC.
What Happened? The Blue and Gold were clinical over the first few rallies. Hailey Petersen (JR/Omaha, NE) got the first kill of the game and the second immediately after. Samantha Arellano (SR/Tulare, CA) made it 4-0 VU before the Warriors got on the board. But Petersen and the Lions quickly got back to work, running out a 10-4 lead. Kills from Danielle Bellfi (SR/Murrieta, CA) and Callie Bickmore (SO/Auburn, CA) powered Vanguard to a 10-point lead from there at 15-5. With the defense on point and a number of arms getting fed, the Lions easily blew away the hosts in set one 25-11. The Lions hit .391, with 14 kills and only five errors in the frame.
Set Two
From one of the best attack percentages of the year, VU then went to .000 in the second. Despite nine kills and errors each, the Lions were in the fight for the set victory the entire way. Despite going down 0-4, Bellfi and Fernandez help to mount the comeback, with an ace from Madeline DeLucia (SO/Happy Valley, OR) putting Vanguard up 6-4. The lead would sway from side to side, as the Warriors and the Lions exchanged kills and errors. As the second period neared the twenties, Rachel Lim (FR/La Palma, CA) found Bellfi on a quality pass to put the Blue and Gold ahead 21-19. But the Lions then went cold at the wrong moment, with Life Pacific posting a 6-1 run to steal set two 25-22.
Set Three
The home side sprang out to a 5-0 before VU could get on the board. The Lions got kills from Petersen and Bellfi to eat up some of the deficit but only got as close as 10-8. The Warriors then put up points in a hurry, going up 15-10 and then 22-11. Kills from Bellfi and Arellano were the last positives for the Lions as LPU took set three 25-15. VU hit .021 in the period.
Set Four
The Lions got a better start in the fourth, as the score stayed close in the early stages. Tied 4-4, kills from Fernandez and Callie Bickmore helped to keep Vanguard level with LPU at 7-7. But the Warriors then flipped a switch to a level VU just could not overcome, posting only six more points as Life Pacific took the set 25-13 and the match 3-1.
Vanguard hit .045 for the contest. The team had 10 kills from Danielle Bellfi to lead the way, with Fernandez second with eight. DeLucia had 19 assists, while Lim added in 16. Kyzey Mitzel had 24 digs to pace the lineup, with DeLucia second with 15, Fernandez next with 12, and Lim adding in 10. VU had two aces and only four solo blocks to go with two block assists.
Why is it Important? This marks the second win by the Warriors over the Lions in 10 matches.
What's next? Vanguard will get right back at it tomorrow night, as the team will welcome the Hope Royals to the Pit at 7:00 p.m.
