Box Score COSTA MESA, Calif. – Sixth ranked Vanguard University (10-3) welcomed 12th ranked Ottawa University – Arizona (12-4) to campus for the 2021 GSAC Championship match. Falling behind after the first set 21-25, the Lions rallied to win three-straight sets 25-23,25-17,25-22 to secure the title – the first in the two years of the program.
What Happened? Even with no fans in attendance, the atmosphere of The Pit different with the title on the line. Both teams were generating an incredible amount of energy which flowed its way onto the court. In the first set, both teams were playing incredibly tight until the Spirit had built a 20-15 point margin. Then, with one of the longer rallies of the game, Valesis Vaisual (FR/Hayward, CA) sank a kill from the middle and gave the Pride new life. With the gap closed to 20-17, OUAZ took advantage of a pair of errors to take a 22-17 lead. A service ace from Kyle Anema (JR/La Mirada, CA) forced OUAZ to call their first timeout, and they were able hold a 24-20 margin with service on set point, eventually winning the set by four points.
Despite originally falling behind 5-2, the Pride evened the match at 6-6 thanks to a pair of service aces by Anema. OUAZ was the aggressor, taking advantage of gaps in the Lions' blocking, and Vanguard was working hard just to keep tying the ball game. Each time they would make a run and close in on the visitors, they would counter with points in succession. Trailing 12-16, head coach Brad Rostratter called his first timeout. After the hosts secured five of the next six points, OUAZ burned their first stoppage. With momentum on their side, VU claimed their first lead at 18-17. On top 23-20, consecutive errors by Vanguard forced them into their final timeout, hoping to stop the momentum and even the match in sets won.
After building an early three-point edge, the Spirit came back to tie the third set at 8-8. With Vanguard leading 14-11, Kyle Steele called OUAZ's first timeout. Back-to-back powerful swings from Anema pushed the lead to five. Not getting the desired results and trailing 18-12, the Spirit called their final timeout. Holding a seven-point lead, Matthew Roussin (JR/Anaheim Hills, CA) landed a service ace to bring the team within sight of victory. With the Lions showing set-point, it ended on a service error by the opposition.
Holding a 2-1 lead in sets won, the Blue and Gold came out with came out with extra juice and led 14-10 and holding all the momentum. With neither team able to firmly grasp service and string together points, they went back and forth until the Pride led 19-15. Needing just four more point to earn the come from behind win, the Lions could taste it. Christian Nowtash (JR/Vista, CA) took the honors of serving Vanguard to set point, winning on a Spirit error.
Why It's Important? Although it was a year later than Vanguard imagined, they competed in their first GSAC Championship match and third overall sponsored by the conference. This also marks their first trip to the NAIA postseason as they secure the automatic berth from the GSAC. These two teams have played twice in history, with Vanguard winning both, and losing only one combined set. This championship is the 82nd conference title in school history.
Top Performers: Anema recorded a match high 21 kills on 34 attempts for a .441 attacking rate. Roussin played the Robin to his Batman tallying 12 kills on 25 attempts. The only other kills recorded by the Lions were from Fillipo Meoni, Cody Watts (SO/Clovis, CA), and Vaisual. Defensively, Anema and Cameron Way (JR/Dana Point, CA) each had six digs with five going to Bryce Thompson (JR/Los Alamitos, CA) – who record 40 of the teams 44 assists on the day. At the net, the Pride recorded 10 blocks.
What They Said: Cody Watts - "Man, it feels awesome. We played our hearts out and we put it all on the floor. We competed in practice which really payed off in the end." Connor Chase - "We went out there together as brothers, just battling out there. We played our hearts out out there and it payed off!"
What's Next? The Lions await the field to be reveal for the 2021 NAIA National Championship held in Des Moines, Iowa.
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