GLENDALE, Ariz. – For the first time in school history, the Vanguard women's volleyball team completed the Golden State Athletic Conference schedule undefeated. The Lions defeated Arizona Christian in four sets on Saturday to end up 14-0 in conference play.
Set scores went 22-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-20. VU improved to 24-1 overall and extended its school record winning streak to 22 straight matches.
VU became just the fourth squad since 2005 to go unblemished through the GSAC slate, joining Westmont teams from 2016, 2017 and 2020 on that list.
The Lions received 12 kills apiece from Adeline Galvanoni and Morgan Cole to tie for team-high honors. Galvanoni hit .343 on 35 attempts while Cole posted a team-best 16 digs to tally her 12th double-double of the season.
Callie Bickmore contributed 10 kills and three block assists. Libero Natalie Escher led the defensive charge with a match-high tying 18 digs.
The setter duo of Rachel Lim and Madeline DeLucia combined for 43 assists and three service aces.
Vanguard hit .220 for the match and held the Firestorm to .127 efficiency. The Lions also led in kills (53-45), assists (48-43), aces (6-4) and digs (88-72).
What Happened?
Set 1 – The Lions lost just their sixth set all season in GSAC play, opening with a 25-22 defeat. The Firestorm outhit the Lions .178 to .026.
The teams battled through three early ties before VU took a 6-4 lead. ACU scored five straight points to take a three-point advantage, and the run eventually splurged to 12-2 as the Lions burned two timeouts.
Trailing 20-15, the Lions mounted a 6-3 rally to pull within 23-21 on a double block from Kayla Robinson and Viktoria Dickson. But a Becca Thomson kill gave ACU set point, and a VU attack error ended the set in the Firestorm's favor.
Set 2 – Vanguard reversed fortunes, outhitting the Firestorm .275 to .158. Galvanoni was stellar with eight of her 12 kills in the frame.
VU scored four in a row to break away from a 5-5 tie. The Lions maintained a comfortable lead until a 6-1 Firestorm run closed the gap to 16-15. The two teams exchanged sideouts for several points with VU emerged with the 21-18 advantage. Galvanoni had three straight kills for the Lions during that stretch.
The Lions completed the set with consecutive kills by Galvanoni, Dickson and Olbur to take the 25-19 victory.
Set 3 – The Blue and Gold dominated from start to finish in hitting a match-high .312 while holding the Firestorm to .000 efficiency.
The Lions broke out to a 13-2 lead with Cole producing four kills. The Firestorm responded with a 6-1 run to chop the deficit down to 15-9, but got no closer than six points. Cole and Kayla Robinson teamed up to block Hailey Reynolds as VU led 21-12, and Galvanoni's slam finished off the 25-15 triumph.
Set 4 – The Firestorm led early, grabbling an 8-6 lead following a VU service error. The Lions took their first lead at 11-10 on a Bickmore kill, which started a 5-1 run. Leading 15-11, the Lions maintained a lead no fewer than three points the rest of the way.
Bickmore closed out the match with her 10th kill as VU won 25-20.
Why Is It Important?: VU won 42 sets and dropped just six en route to the GSAC regular season championship.
What's Next?: The Lions will play an opponent to be named later on Friday, November 3 in the GSAC Tournament semifinals at Life Pacific.
