SURPRISE, Ariz. – The first long conference road trip for the Vanguard women's volleyball team started off against the Spirit of OUAZ Friday night. The Spirit had won both meetings last year but the Lions only surrendered one set to the hosts on this occasion. After OUAZ won the first set 25-23, the Lions swept the next three sets 25-16, 25-22, and 25-21. The win puts the Lions at 14-5 overall and 4-1 in Golden State Athletic Conference play. The Spirit fall to 6-7 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
What Happened?
Vanguard would get the first three points of the night, with Morgan Cole (FR/Bakersfield, CA) and Callie Bickmore (JR/Auburn, CA) each picking up a kill in the process. The Spirit then splashed down for their first kill of the night but the Lions would stretch the lead to 5-3. However, the home side soon disposed of the pleasantries and produced a 9-5 run that gave OUAZ a 12-9 lead. VU rallied as the set moved along, chipping away as Cole pounded down five kills to help the team draw level at 13-all. The score would then bounce between the two sides until it was 18-18. The Spirit then grabbed a two-point lead, forcing the Lions to call their first timeout. But VU could not tie the score again in the frame, as the Spirit would take the first set 25-23. OUAZ hit .151 in the first while the Lions hit at a .133 rate.
The second period started with the two sides staying even but once more, the Lions would get a small burst of points, with Hailey Petersen (SR/Omaha, NE), Viktoria Dickson (FR/Chula Vista, CA), and Bickmore each landing blows. The Blue and Gold would attempt to pull away more, getting two aces from Rachel Lim (SO/La Palma, CA) to net a 7-5 edge, but the Spirit would not be so easily put away, as they tied the game again. The Lions soon bounced back and took the 9-9 tie and turned it into a 12-9 lead, but OUAZ took a timeout and reset the score at 12-all. Yet again the Lions would push out the lead and this time it would stick, as a 10-3 hot streak put the Lions out of reach. Delaney Hill (FR/Foothill Ranch, CA) slammed down a ball to make it 24-16 and a block from Hill and Payton Darm (SO/San Juan Capistrano, CA) would secure the second set for the Lions 25-16. VU hit at a .276 clip, while OUAZ had a .156 mark for the set.
The third set opened with some mistakes from the Spirit, which allowed the Lions to slide out to a 4-1 lead. However, OUAZ would soon tie the score at 5-5 and the two sides began an even battle once again. Vanguard inched out to a slim lead at 11-9 but the good times then halted abruptly, as the Spirit climbed away with a 10-2 run. The hosts seemed secure with a 19-13 advantage but Vanguard, fresh off a similar deficit in the third set against Life Pacific last time out, did not quit. The team again got two aces from Lim and a kill by Cole would cap a 7-1 run to tie the score at 20-all. But even the second timeout called by OUAZ was not enough to halt the Lions, who would close out the set with a 5-2 run to win the frame 25-22, with Cole contributing the final kill shot. VU did all that while hitting at a .086 mark in the set, while OUAZ had a .138 attack percentage.
The fourth set saw Ottawa start off with a 3-0 run but Petersen bounced down a kill to get the Lions on the board. Cambria Fernandez (SR/Northridge, CA) then picked up an ace to make it 3-2 as the Lions stayed close to the Spirit. Kills from Bickmore and Cole would get VU into the lead and another ace from Lim made it 7-5 Vanguard. But the Spirit rebounded, as was par for them on the day, and soon the score was even at 10-all. A few rallies later, the game was still tied at 13-13. Bickmore then made a big kill and the Blue and Gold did not look back from there. A 10-4 hot streak put VU in a great position to win but the Spirit would once more counter, closing the gap to 23-20. VU called a timeout and the Spirit got the next point, but it would turn out to be their last. Bickmore and Cole put back-to-back kills down to the hardwood to give the Lions set four 25-21 and the match victory 3-1. Vanguard hit at a .111 rate in the fourth while OUAZ had a .128 mark.
OUAZ hit at a .144 rate for the match, just a shade better than the .143 percentage the Lions had. The Blue and Gold just edged out the Spirit in kills and assists but really made a mark in the service ace and dig department. VU had 12 aces to OUAZ's four and had 72 digs compared to 61 by the Spirit. Morgan Cole had 17 kills to lead the team, with Bickmore and Petersen next up with nine kills each. Madeline DeLucia (JR/Happy Valley, OR) had 18 assists and Lim had 16 to pair with five aces. VU had four players with 10-plus digs, with DeLucia and Blair Dodge (SO/Aliso Viejo, CA) each netting 14. Cole and Lim each had 13, as Cole picked up yet another double-double. Petersen had one solo block and five block assists. Darm had one solo block and four block assists.
What was Said?
"Tonight's win really demonstrated the tenacity of our team when pressure is applied and our ability to remain calm during tough circumstances," said Natalie Escher (SR/Redlands, CA).
Why is it Important?
VU improved to 7-2 all-time against the Spirit and is now tied for first with Westmont at 4-1 in conference play.
What's Next?
The team will get one night of rest and will get right back at it tomorrow against Arizona Christian at 2:00 p.m.
