HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – The Vanguard beach volleyball team completed its run through the Golden State Athletic Conference schedule on Saturday, sweeping Arizona Christian and No. 2 The Master's to clinch its second straight conference title.
The Lions went 12-0 against conference competition, losing only two sets along the way. Vanguard earned the No. 1 seed for the upcoming GSAC Tournament. The team also celebrated the careers of four Lions on Senior Day – Vashti Elias Romero (JR/Redlands, CA), Natalie Escher (SR/Redlands, CA), Cambria Fernandez (SR/Northridge, CA) and Carly McKinney (SR/Mission Viejo, CA).
Vanguard has won 22 straight regular season matches against GSAC competition dating back to the 2020 season.
What Happened?: The Lions won nine of their 10 matches in straight sets on Saturday.
VU beat Arizona Christian for the second time this season. At the ones, Conley Harris (SR/Brea, CA) and Escher defeated Aubri Green and Brianna Boeckman, 21-9, 21-7.
Emma Galloway (FR/Del Mar, CA) and McKinney also held their opponent to single digit points in both matches, toppling Anna Kate Clark and CeAirra Bowman by identical 21-7, 21-7 scores at the threes.
Chloe Knudson (FR/Coeur D' Alene, ID) and Fernandez claimed a 21-13, 21-6 victory at the fives against Deanna Avila and Delaney Gill. Things were tighter at flights 2 and 4, where Morgan Nash (JR/Tucson, AZ) and Elias Romero battled to a 21-19, 21-13 victory over Misty McCall and Railey Dykstra.
At the fours, Hally Herder (JR/Highlands Ranch, CO) and Madison Arnold (FR/Chatsworth, CA) downed Amaya Brown and Sydney Shaw, 21-9, 27-25.
In the final match of the afternoon, the Lions earned a hard fought 5-0 win against the Mustangs.
Galloway and McKinney prevailed over Tara Long and Kaylie Phelps, 21-10, 21-13. Galloway and McKinney have won nine straight matches together.
At the fours, Herder and Arnold took care of Emilye Grace Williams and Annika Booker, 21-13, 21-15. They have won eight in a row.
Knudson and Fernandez were victorious at the fives, posting a 21-16, 21-14 triumph over Gwen Garate and Abby Janho.
With the victory already in hand, the Lions closed out the match with a pair of victories at the top two positions.
Nash and Elias Romero won a tight first set, 21-18, over Kassidy Wilson and Chloe Johnson, before taking the second by a 21-10 score at the twos. Nash and Elias Romero are riding an eight-match winning streak.
Harris and Escher went to three sets against Kasie Spencer and Evi Yates, earning a 21-9, 18-21, 15-5 victory over their Mustang counterparts. Harris and Escher own a seven-match winning streak.
Why Is It Important?: Vanguard has now won a school record 16 matches and owns a current win streak of eight straight.
What Was Said?: "It was a long weekend full of tests and trials, which made it much sweeter to have our second year in a row of being undefeated in GSAC play," said Head Coach Kris Dorn. "We want to continue to grow through the GSAC Tournament and on to the NAIA National Championship."
What's Next?: The Lions have one more regular season match remaining, taking on Westcliff on Friday, April 1 in Irvine.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
March 26, 2022
Huntington Beach, Calif. (Brookhurst & PCH Courts)
No. 1 Vanguard 5, Arizona Christian 0
1. Conley Harris/Natalie Escher (VU) def. Aubri Green/Brianna Boeckman (ACU) 21-9, 21-7
2. Morgan Nash/Vashti Elias Romero (VU) def. Misty McCall/Railey Dykstra (ACU) 21-19, 21-13
3. Emma Galloway/Carly McKinney (VU) def. Anna Kate Clark/CeAirra Bowman (ACU) 21-7, 21-7
4. Hally Herder/Madison Arnold (VU) def. Amaya Brown/Sydney Shaw (ACU) 21-9, 27-25
5. Chloe Knudson/Cambria Fernandez (VU) def. Deanna Avila/Delaney Gill (ACU) 21-13, 21-6
No. 1 Vanguard 5, No. 2 The Master's 0
1. Conley Harris/Natalie Escher (VU) def. Kasie Spencer/Evi Yates (TMU) 21-9, 18-21, 15-5
2. Morgan Nash/Vashti Elias Romero (VU) def. Kassidy Wilson/Chloe Johnson (TMU) 21-18, 21-10
3. Emma Galloway/Carly McKinney (VU) def. Tara Long/Kaylie Phelps (TMU) 21-10, 21-13
4. Hally Herder/Madison Arnold (VU) def. Emilye Grace Williams/Annika Booker (TMU) 21-13, 21-15
5. Chloe Knudson/Cambria Fernandez (VU) def. Gwen Garate/Abby Janho (TMU) 21-16, 21-14
