PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – Vanguard's quest to capture the 2022 NAIA Beach Volleyball Invitational Championship came up just short in a 3-2 loss to Corban (Ore.) on Saturday.
The Lions finished with a 22-5 record, the program's most wins in its five-year history. Corban, which lost to the Lions on Thursday in pool play, avenged that defeat in becoming the first NAIA Invitational winner.
What Happened?: The tightly contested match came down to the fives as Emilee Hall (JR/Redondo Beach, CA) and Cambria Fernandez (SR/Northridge, CA) dueled against Jolene Daviscourt and Megan Dennis with the title on the line. The Lion pair picked up the 21-16 win in the first set, but dropped the next two sets by scores of 21-18 and 16-14. Dennis served an ace on match point.
The Lions led twice but lost at a couple of unconventional positions in the order to open up opportunities for the Warriors.
Morgan Nash (JR/Tucson, AZ) and Vashti Elias Romero (JR/Redlands, CA) got VU out to a 1-0 lead with their win at the twos. They defeated Nicole Bantilan and Maya Blake by identical 21-13, 21-13 scores.
In a rare setback, Carly McKinney (SR/Mission Viejo, CA) and Emma Galloway (FR/Del Mar, CA) dropped a 21-14, 21-17 decision to Kianna Keeling and Cameron Keeling at the threes as Corban tied the match at 1-1. McKinney and Galloway had a team-best 22 wins this season going into that match.
But the Lions pushed back ahead, 2-1, with a solid victory from the No. 4 pair Hally Herder (JR/Highlands Ranch, CO) and Madison Arnold (FR/Chatsworth, CA). The duo downed Jessica McMillian and Briana Ayala, 21-15, 21-14.
Conley Harris (SR/Brea, CA) and Natalie Escher (SR/Redlands, CA), a 20-win duo at the ones, had an opportunity to clinch the match. But a difficult 23-21 loss in set one to Avari Ridgway and Makenna Campbell opened the door as the Warrior tandem followed with 21-13 set two triumph, tying the contest at 2-2. When these two teams met on Thursday in pool play, Harris and Escher won handily by scores of 21-14, 21-16.
That set up the winner-take-all showdown at the fives, where Vanguard was playing without one of its regulars in Chloe Knudson (FR/Coeur D' Alene, ID).
VU played in just five contests that went the distance in 2022, a footnote on just how dominant the Lions were this season. The loss to Corban was VU's first to an NAIA team this year.
The Lions landed two pairs on the All-Tournament team in Harris and Escher, and Nash and Elias Romero. Kris Dorn was named the Coach of the Year.
What Was Said?: "Bottom line we didn't flirt with danger," said Dorn. "Kudos to our opponent for being aggressive. We need to sit in the low places but someday soon we'll get to reflect on an amazing season despite the last match."
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
April 23, 2022
Panama City Beach, Fla. (Panama City Beach)
No. 5 Corban 3, No. 1 Vanguard 2
1. Avari Ridgway/Makenna Campbell (COR) def. Conley Harris/Natalie Escher (VU) 23-21, 21-13
2. Morgan Nash/Vashti Elias Romero (VU) def. Nicole Bantilan/Maya Blake (COR) 21-13, 21-13
3. Kianna Keeling/Cameron Keeling (COR) def. Emma Galloway/Carly McKinney (VU) 21-14, 21-17
4. Hally Herder/Madison Arnold (VU) def. Jessica McMillian/Briana Ayala (COR) 21-15, 21-14
5. Jolinn Daviscourt/Megan Dennis (COR) def. Emilee Hall/Cambria Fernandez (VU) 16-21, 21-18, 16-14
Order of finish: 2, 3, 4, 1, 5
