HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – On a blustery day at the Brookhurst and PCH Courts, the Vanguard beach volleyball team worked hard for a pair of victories, defeating No. 4 The Master's 3-2 and Life Pacific 5-0.
The Lions remained unbeaten in Golden State Athletic Conference play at 7-0 and moved to 8-2 overall. The Mustangs fell one game back of the Lions in the GSAC standings at 6-1, while the Warriors dropped to 0-8.
What Happened?: Vanguard's ones, twos and threes all went 2-0 to carry the day against its conference foes.
The Lions needed their top three pairs in a battle that went the distance against The Master's. Conley Harris and Natalie Escher earned a commanding 21-9, 21-11 victory against Chloe Johnson and Kassidy Wilson. The threes upped the score to 2-0 when Carly McKinney and Emma Galloway romped to a 21-7, 21-13 triumph over Tara Long and Kayte McKinney.
Two of the three remaining courts went to three sets, and the Lions won one of them.
At the twos, Morgan Nash and Vashti Elias Romero were embroiled in a back-and-forth matchup with Evie Yates and Kasie Spencer. The Lions took set one, 26-24, but lost the second set 21-19. They took control in set three and won 15-7 as VU clinched the match.
The No. 4 pair of Emilye Grace Williams and Annika Booker won their match against Hally Herder and Madison Arnold, overcoming a set deficit to take the 14-21, 21-15, 15-10 decision.
Winning at the fives for the Mustangs was Zoe Kira and CJ Catabona, by identical 21-15, 21-15 scores over Emilee Hall and Chloe Knudson.
Vanguard had less trouble with Life Pacific, dropping just one set en route to a 5-0 victory. The fours and fives for the Lions returned to the win column with convincing straight set wins.
Herder and Arnold defeated Bailey Collette and Daniela H'Orvath, 21-13, 21-9, at the fours, while Bailey Coffin teamed up with Knudson to take down Caitlyn Riden and Alyssa McClure, 21-14, 21-16.
At the ones, Harris and Escher notched a 21-16, 21-9 triumph against Hannah Caddow and Mackenzie Stewart.
McKinney and Galloway continued their impressive play as the VU No. 3 pair romped to a 21-14, 21-10 win against Justine Dagdagon.
The twos had their toughest test with a three-setter against Justyne Dagdagon and Mackenzie Grooms. But Nash and Elias Romero were up to the challenge, overcoming a first set loss for the 14-21, 21-16, 16-14 win.
Why Is It Important?: The Lions already have defeated all six GSAC opponents as they approach the midpoint of the regular season schedule.
What Was Said?: "The wind was a huge test…we talk constantly about adjustments, and our ladies were able to battle through some extreme, game-changing gusts," said Head Coach Kris Dorn. "We're glad it's over but we also know every lesson is important."
What's Next?: The Lions step away from GSAC competition for a non conference battle at Concordia-Irvine on Wednesday, March 9 at 11:00 am.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
March 5, 2022
Huntington Beach, Calif. (Brookhurst & PCH Courts)
No. 1 Vanguard 3, No. 4 The Master's 2
1. Conley Harris/Natalie Escher (VU) def. Chloe Johnson/Kassidy Wilson (TMU) 21-9, 21-11
2. Morgan Nash/Vashti Elias Romero (VU) def. Evie Yates/Kasie Spencer (TMU) 26-24, 19-21, 15-7
3. Carly McKinney/Emma Galloway (VU) def. Tara Long/Kayte McKinney (TMU) 21-7, 21-13
4. Emilye Grace Williams/Annika Booker (TMU) def. Hally Herder/Madison Arnold (VU) 14-21, 21-15, 15-10
5. Zoe Kira/CJ Catabona (TMU) def. Emilee Hall/Chloe Knudson (VU) 21-15, 21-15
No. 1 Vanguard 5, Life Pacific 0
1. Conley Harris/Natalie Escher (VU) def. Hannah Caddow/Mackenzie Stewart (LPU) 21-16, 21-9
2. Morgan Nash/Vashti Elias Romero (VU) def. Adrianna Guzman/Lindsey Johnson (LPU) 14-21, 21-16, 16-14
3. Carly McKinney/Emma Galloway (VU) def. Justyne Dagdagon/Mackenzie Grooms (LPU) 21-14, 21-10
4. Hally Herder/Madison Arnold (VU) def. Bailey Collette/Daniela H'Orvath (LPU) 21-13, 21-9
5. Bailey Coffin/Chloe Knudson (VU) def. Caitlyn Riden/Alyssa McClure (LPU) 21-14, 21-16
