HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – For the second time this season, Vanguard University (8-3,8-0) played a pair of duals against The Master's University (4-12,4-4) and Hope International University. Continuing the outcomes, the Lions captured a 3-2 win over TMU and a 5-0 sweep over the Royals (0-7,0-6).
What Happened? The day began with Conley Harris (JR/Brea, CA) and Natalie Escher (JR/Redlands, CA) capturing matching 21-9 scores on Court One. Sydney Irwin (SO/Moorpark, CA) and Vashti Elias Romero (SO/Redlands, CA) won by 21-17, 21-14 margins. Kayla Tinker (SR/San Clemente, CA) and Carly McKinney (SR/Mission Viejo, CA) lost the first set 17-21 before rallying for 21-8 and 15-10 counts. The fourth and fifth pairs were forfeited by the Royals. In the second match, Emilee Hall (SO/Redondo Beach, CA) and Allyson Scharrer (FR/Newport Beach, CA) won 21-17 and 21-9 for the first point and put the Pride on the path to victory. Tinker and McKinney cruised to 21-11, 21-12 victories. Hally Herder (SO/Highlands Ranch, CO) and Mackenzie Mitchell (SR/Costa Mesa, CA) assured Vanguard of the match win by winning 21-13, 21-14. Irwin and Romero fall by 11-21, 16-21 scores while Harris and Escher lost 10-15 in the third set.
Why It's Important? The Blue and Gold has finished their GSAC slate 8-0, capturing the undefeated record in their lone home matches of the tumultuous season. Vanguard is 5-1 in program history against HIU and 3-0 against TMU over the past two seasons.
Top Performers: This season, the pair of Harris and Escher are 8-3 playing in Flight 1 each time. Pair Two of Irwin and Romero have records of 5-6 and 7-4, respectively. Tinker and her partner McKinney have a 7-4 overall pair record. Hall holds a 6-5 record count in 2021 while her partner is 8-2. Herder is 3-0 this year and Mitchell is 4-2 during her senior campaign.
What They Said: Head Coach Kris Dorn – "Today was such a victory on all accounts. Having so many people come to support us was a wonderful reminder that we are deeply entrenched in community despite outside circumstances. And after getting new sand put on the courts, today was a great test to see if we could hold home court in deeper sand. It's testimony to the way these young women fight for each other."
What's Next: Tuesday, March 30th in Malibu, CA against Pepperdine at 10:00 AM and Loyola Marymount at 2:00 PM
#ClawsUp
