ATHERTON, Calif. – Facing a two sets to none deficit, the Vanguard men's volleyball team did not blink and roared back to a five-set victory against No. 5 Menlo at Haynes-Prim Pavilion on Saturday afternoon.

The 21-25, 21-25, 25-16, 25-14, 15-6 win also clinched a share of the Golden State Athletic Conference regular season championship. Both Vanguard and OUAZ finished at 9-1 in conference play.

The Lions earned the right to host next week's GSAC Tournament by virtue of winning a tiebreaker against OUAZ. VU and OUAZ split the regular season series and each won four sets against the other. However, the Lions compiled more total points against the Spirit, giving them hosting responsibilities.

It is just the second time all season VU has faced an 0-2 deficit. Both times VU overcame the deficit, and at the same venue. VU defeated Benedictine Mesa in five sets on January 23 at Haynes-Prim Pavilion.

What Happened?: Kyle Anema (SR/La Mirada, CA) tied his season high with 25 kills, including six in the decisive fifth set. He hit .458 with just three errors in 48 attempts. The outside hitter added 11 digs to secure his second double-double of the season.

Matthew Roussin (SR/Anaheim Hills, CA) tallied a season-best 17 kills on .406 hitting to go along with eight digs. Cody Watts (JR/Clovis, CA) had 10 kills in 10 attempts and came up huge with five total blocks, including four solo.

Bryce Thompson (SR/Los Alamitos, CA) collected a career-high 67 assists as Vanguard hit .433 for the contest. Cameron Way (SR/Dana Point, CA) and Tomas Berales (JR/Newburg, OR) split backrow duties and each tallied seven digs.

Menlo hit just .233 overall, and managed to hit only .125 (5-3-16) in the fifth set. Konrad Stoklosinski notched 18 kills but hit only .163 overall.

Set 1

The first set featured eight lead changes. Vanguard's largest lead was three points, the last at 13-10 on an Anema kill. Menlo used a 5-1 run to take a 15-14 lead, but the Lions responded with three straight on their own.

The Lions continued to lead by two at 21-19, but the Oaks scored the last six points to take the first set 25-21. VU had three attack errors during Menlo's clinching run.

Set 2

Menlo took control early on and never relinquished the lead. The Oaks sprinted out to a 7-2 lead as Stoklosinski and Joshua Thompson combined for four early kills.

The Lions crept back midway through the second set, posting a 5-2 run to make it 14-12 Oaks. Roussin had two kills, while Glen Linden (SO/Newport Beach, CA) and Anema had one apiece.

Vanguard remained close at 17-15, but Menlo scored five of the next six points to widen the margin to 22-16 as Josh Sullivan pounded a kill. VU made one last push to get to 23-20, but Sullivan ended the set with a kill and a 25-21 Oaks victory.

Set 3

Vanguard hit .542 (17-4-24) in the third set to impose its will in a 25-16 victory. Two kills from Watts helped the Lions burst out to a 6-2 lead.

Watts solo stuffed Chase Direito as VU opened up a 14-8 advantage, and an errant Menlo attack maintained a six-point lead at 21-15.

VU scored the final four points to take the win and Watts denied Stoklosinski on set point.

Set 4

Menlo's only lead was 1-0 as Vanguard continued to hit at a torrid clip. The Lions posted a .485 hitting percentage while holding the Oaks to .242 efficiency.

The Lions and Oaks were in a tight battle as VU led just 10-9. VU's lead was three when Watts pounded back-to-back kills as part of a 4-0 run, giving the Lions an 18-11 edge.

The Oaks got a brief reprieve as a service error lowered the deficit to 18-12. But the Lions scored another four consecutive points to open up a 22-12 lead and put the set out of reach. Jacob Van Groningen (SO/Manteca, CA) entered the match and tallied the set-clinching point as VU won 25-14.

Set 5

With the regular season title and a tournament hosting opportunity on the line, the Lions turned to their All-American Anema.

Anema scored Vanguard's first three points on kills as the Lions held an early 3-1 lead. Van Groningen contributed two more kills to put VU up 6-4. The Oaks remained down by two, 8-6, after a Sullivan kill.

But the Lions finished with an impressive 7-0 title-clinching run. Anema had two kills during the run, and Christian Nowtash (SR/Vista, CA) served out the final six points. The Lions secured victory on a match point double block from Watts and Thompson.

Why Is It Important?: The Lions get to host the GSAC tournament at The Pit, where they are 10-1 this season. The GSAC Tournament represents the final event to ever be contested in The Pit, as the venerable building will be torn down later this spring.

What Was Said?: "So proud of the guys today! Our response was great after losing the first two sets," said Head Coach Brad Rostratter. "In everything we do it is all about our response and I'm proud of how well we responded to adversity."

What's Next?: Vanguard hosts the GSAC Tournament on April 1-2. The top-seeded Lions will play in the first semifinal at 5:00 p.m. against No. 4 seed The Master's at 5:00 p.m. Second-seeded OUAZ will battle No. 3 seed Menlo at 7:30 p.m. The two winners will meet in the championship match on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.