FULLERTON, Calif. - The Vanguard University Women's Volleyball team (8-5, 4-3) pushed their win streak to three games with a five-set victory over Hope International University (0-9, 0-6). The Lions had faced the Royals four times this year and earned the series sweep as they won two games in three sets and two games in five sets.
What Happened? The first set featured five early ties and three lead changes before the Royals went on a 7-2 run with the game tied at 11 to build an 18-13 lead. A couple of kills by Bailey Olbur (FR/Las Vegas, NV) and Tayler Templeman (JR/Puyallup, WA) cut the lead back down to two, but the Royals went on another mini 4-0 run to take the first set 25-22. The second set was even more tightly contested as we saw nine ties and seven lead changes. The Lions recorded their best hitting percentage of the game as they recorded 19 kills and only six errors in 42 attempts as they tied things up at one with a 25-23 victory.
After going down three early in the third set, the Pride were able to tie things up at 10. The Royals pushed out in front once again, to take a 16-13 lead, but Cambria Fernandez (JR/Northridge, CA) caught fire for the Blue and Gold as she recorded five kills late in the set as the Lions flipped the script and went on a 12-1 run to go up two sets to one. HIU put together their best hitting percentage in the match, while the Pride could not replicate their offensive potency as the Royals tied things up with a 25-12 victory.
HIU got out to an 8-5 lead early in the fifth set, forcing a timeout by Head Coach JP Dorn. The Lions would come out of the timeout with a renewed intensity as Fernandez recorded a kill and a block, while Olbur found the hardwood for a kill as well. After the game was tied at 11, 12, and 13, a kill by Olbur and a block by Tayler Templeman and Mallorie Post (SR/Federal Way, WA) would seal the win for the Pride.
Why It's Important? The Lions pushed their win streak to four games earning the series sweep as they won two games in three sets and two games in five sets against the Royals. Cambria Fernandez's 23 kills were one off a top-ten mark in VU's history.
Top Performers: Fernandez led the Lions with a match-high in kills (23) and digs (31), while Danielle Bellfi (JR/Murrieta, CA) and Olbur also hit double-figures in kills with 17 and 16, respectively. Kynzey Mitzel (JR/Tigard, OR) was second on the team with 25 digs on the night while Madeline DeLucia (FR/Happy Valley, OR) dished out 39 assists in her return to action.
What They Said: "Tonight was an inconsistent effort. It's always tough to play a team four times and I don't think we prepared well mentally for that task," said Head Coach JP Dorn. "Happy to have found the rhythm in set five to close it out and thrilled to see Bailey stepping out as a freshman to dominate from the middle position."
What's Next: A three-game series against San Diego Christian will start on Saturday, March 20th at 6:00 p.m.
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