GLENDALE, Ariz. – Vanguard closed out the two-day GSAC Round with a pair of victories on Saturday, posting identical 5-0 victories over No. 18 Life Pacific and No. 1 OUAZ at Victory Lanes Sports Park.

The Lions finished 3-0 at the event, sweeping all three opponents and losing just one set along the way.

What Happened?: Vanguard opened the day by winning four of the five matches against Life Pacific with relative ease, but all five finished in straight sets.

Hally Herder (JR/Highlands Ranch, CO) and Madison Arnold (FR/Chatsworth, CA) triumphed at the fives with a 21-11, 21-5 victory over Caitlin Riden and Alyssa McClure.

At the twos, Morgan Nash (JR/Tucson, AZ) and Vashti Elias Romero (JR/Redlands, CA) rolled to a 21-13, 21-9 victory against Audrianna Guzman and Mackenzie Stewart.

With Natalie Escher (SR/Redlands, CA) out, the Lions adjusted the No. 1 pairing to include Conley Harris (SR/Brea, CA) and Emilee Hall (JR/Redondo Beach, CA). Playing together for the first time in their careers, the duo turned in a 21-15, 21-13 win over Hannah Caddow and Lindsey Johnson.

The Lions closed out the match against the Warriors with wins at the threes and fours.

Carly McKinney (SR/Mission Viejo, CA) and Emma Galloway (FR/Del Mar, CA) had no trouble dispatching Justine Dagdagan and Mackenzie Grooms, 21-7, 21-8. Cambria Fernandez (SR/Northridge, CA) and Bailey Coffin (SO/Tustin, CA) put in extra work to down their Warrior opponent 22-20 in the first set, but came back stronger in the second set to knock off Bailey Collette and Daniela H'Orvath, 21-13.

The Lions then matched up with top-ranked OUAZ in a rematch of the 2021 AVCA/NAIA National Championship contest.

Vanguard won at all five positions, going to three sets at the No. 4 pairing.

Nash and Elias Romero improved to 3-0 on the weekend, opening with a 21-7, 21-12 triumph over Noel Chavarria and Katie Defer.

VU made it 2-0 in the match when McKinney and Galloway made quick work of Kate Pestova and Priscilla Loyola, 21-9, 21-15.

Clinching the win at the fives were Herder and Arnold, who improved to 3-0 at the tournament with a 21-11, 21-5 victory against Olivia Andersh and Amanda Carlson.

Harris and Hall teamed up for their second win of the afternoon, fighting off Katia Dizon and Katelyn Viray by a 21-18, 21-12 score.

The three-set showdown occurred at the fours as Fernandez and Coffin tangled with Mia Lara and Mattea Wilson. The two pairs split the first two sets by identical 21-17 scores, but VU emerged victorious in the third with a 15-13 decision.

Why Is It Important?: Vanguard, which finished 8-0 against GSAC competition last year, knocked off three conference teams on the opening weekend of the 2022 season.

What Was Said?: "Our conference is strong and it was fun to watch all of the GSAC teams battle it out," said Head Coach Kris Dorn. "We're always excited when our efforts are rewarded in victory…and this was a promising start to the season! We're looking forward to continual improvement."

What's Next?: Vanguard plays its first home matches of the season on Saturday, February 19 at the Huntington Beach Courts off Brookhurst and Pacific Coast Highway. The Lions face No. 13 Hope International at 10:00 a.m. and return at 1:00 p.m. to battle No. 12 Benedictine Mesa.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

February 12, 2022 • Glendale, Ariz. (Victory Lanes Sports Park)

No. 2 Vanguard 5, No. 18 Life Pacific 0

1. Conley Harris/Emilee Hall (VU) def. Hannah Caddow/Lindsey Johnson (LPU) 21-15, 21-13

2. Morgan Nash/Vashti Elias Romero (VU) def. Audrianna Guzman/Mackenzie Stewart (LPU) 21-13, 21-9

3. Carly McKinney/Emma Galloway (VU) def. Justine Dagdagan/Mackenzie Grooms (LPU) 21-7, 21-8

4. Cambria Fernandez/Bailey Coffin (VU) def. Bailey Collette/Daniela H'Orvath (LPU) 22-20, 21-13

5. Hally Herder/Madison Arnold (VU) def. Caitlin Riden/Alyssa McClure (LPU) 21-11, 21-5

Order of finish: 5, 2, 1, 3, 4

No. 2 Vanguard 5, No. 1 OUAZ 0

1. Conley Harris/Emilee Hall (VU) def. Katia Dizon/Katelyn Viray (OUAZ) 21-18. 21-12

2. Morgan Nash/Vashti Elias Romero (VU) def. Noel Chavarria/Katie Defer (OUAZ) 21-7, 21-12

3. Carly McKinney/Emma Galloway (VU) def. Kate Pestova/Priscilla Loiola (OUAZ) 21-9, 21-15

4. Cambria Fernandez/Bailey Coffin (VU) def. Mia Lara/Mattea Wilson (OUAZ) 21-17, 17-21, 15-13

5. Hally Herder/Madison Arnold (VU) def. Olivia Andersh/Amanda Carlson (OUAZ) 21-14, 21-17

Order of finish: 2, 3, 5, 1, 4