COSTA MESA, Calif. - The (RV) Vanguard University Women's Volleyball team (5-4, 2-3) faced off against San Diego Christian College (7-5, 3-2) on Tuesday evening, looking to build on a two-game win streak. After building a 2-1 set lead, the Lions were unable to hold off the comeback as the Hawks took the match: 20-25, 25-19, 25-18, 20-25, 15-11.
What Happened? The Lions got out to a great start as Cambria Fernandez (JR/Northridge, CA) found the hardwood on back-to-back attempts to go up 7-3, forcing an early timeout by the Hawks. The Hawks would settle in out of the break and would tie things up at nine. Samantha Arellano (JR/Tulare, CA) would get in on the fun with two kills, but Breanna Brooks would match her output as both teams struggled to create any separation. Tied at 17, the Hawks would go on a 5-1 run to force a timeout by the Pride. A service error would give SDCC the first set 25-20 as they recorded 11 kills with only one error.
Arellano came out swinging in the second set as she recorded her seventh kill of the match while staying error-free. With the Blue and Gold up 8-6, they would go on a 6-0 run thanks to three kills by Danielle Bellfi (JR/Murrieta, CA) to go up 15-6. Down 17-8, SDCC would flip the script and would go on a 7-2 run of their own to cut their deficit to four. Vanguard was able to hold off the late comeback as a service error and a kill by Hailey Petersen (SO/Omaha, NE) would tie things up at one set apiece.
The Lions would continue their pattern of hot starts as they went on a 7-1 run to start the third set. VU was able to keep the Hawks at an arms distance as back-to-back kills by Fernandez would force an SDCC timeout with the Lions in front 17-10. The Hawks recorded their worst hitting percentage of the match so far as they hit .129 converting 33 attempts into 11 kills with six errors as the Lions took a 2-1 lead into the fourth set.
Set four featured four early ties and two lead changes before the Hawks moved out to a four-point lead, recording 12 kills and only one error. The Lions were able to cut their deficit to two as Fernandez and Peterson stonewalled two attacks in a row, but the Hawks offense continued to generate points at a high rate, taking the fourth set 25-20.
This would be the fifth time in nine games that the Pride would head to a deciding fifth set. Fernandez and Brooks would continue their strong offensive performances as Fernandez would chalk up her 15th kill of the contest, only for Brooks to record her 16th kill moments later to take a 10-8 lead. Aixa Crespo would find the hardwood to push the Hawks' lead to 13-9, forcing a timeout by the Lions. Unfortunately, that did not stop SDCC's momentum as a service error would seal the win in favor of the visitors, 15-11.
Why It's Important? After picking up two wins in conference play, the Lions dropped what would be the fifth of six straight games in the conference slate. The all-time record against San Diego Christian falls to 39-11.
Top Performers: Fernandez led the Lions with 18 kills to go with 14 digs and three total blocks. Arellano, Petersen, and Bellfi would also reach double figures in kills for the Blue and Gold. Madeline DeLucia (FR/Happy Valley, OR) would dish out 54 assists and would record 21 digs, the second-highest mark on the team while NAIA Defender of the Week, Kynzey Mitzel (JR/Tigard, OR) would record 22 digs.
What's Next: Thursday, March 4th @ San Diego Chrisitan College with the game time at 6:00 p.m.
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