Box Score COSTA MESA, Calif. – Vanguard University and Benedictine University at Mesa took the court for the first of back-to-back matches. The Top 10 showdown saw the #8 RedHawks win in four sets over the #5 Lions with scores of 25-21,25-22,19-25,26-24. The Blue and Gold moves to 3-1 on the season while BENU is 2-0 so far this year.
What Happened? The opening set of the match saw the RedHawks hit a blistering .737 on 15 attacks and only one error, which is almost unheard of in men's volleyball. In the second set, the teams regressed to the mean as the three-point difference was cemented by BENU to take a commanding 2-0 lead in sets. Vanguard bounced back well in the third set and rode 15 kills and only a single error to a six-point victory. Needing to win another set to force a decisive fifth set, the Blue and Gold were tied 24-24 with side out. A blocking error and a service ace solidified the victory for the RedHawks.
Why It's Important? This was the first time the Pride squared off in a battle of ranked opponents where they were the higher seed. They are 0-3 all-time against Benedictine with the matches going at least four sets each time.
Top Performers: Matthew Roussin (JR/Anaheim Hills, CA) continues to be an attacking force which gives the Pride a two-headed offensive monster. He and Kyle Anema (JR/La Mirada, CA) both tallied 16 kills and four errors on a combined 69 attempts; Cody Watts (SO/Clovis, CA) recorded five kills on 10 attempts. Bryce Thompson (JR/Los Alamitos, CA), who ranks 20th in total assists this season and second in the NAIA in assists per set, tallied a match high 45. Cameron Way (JR/Dana Point, CA) notched nine digs while Anema and Roussin each added six.
What They Said: Head Coach Brad Rostratter – "Today's match was a battle. Both teams played some high-level volleyball. We discovered some areas we can improve on in the future and are excited for the work ahead of us to finish out the weekend and moving forward with the season."
What's Next: These two teams are back at it tomorrow, Sunday, February 14th at 11:00 a.m.
#ClawsUp
