IRVINE, Calif. – The No. 1 NAIA Vanguard beach volleyball team took on a pair of NCAA Division II opponents on Friday at the OC Great Park, coming away with a split. The Lions defeated Cal State Los Angeles by a 4-1 score before falling in a tight 3-2 match against Concordia University Irvine.
The Lions had their 10-match undefeated start to the 2023 season snapped with the loss to the Golden Eagles. VU did not play with its normal No. 5 pair in either contest.
What Happened?
No. 2 Vanguard 4, Cal State Los Angeles 1
The Lions got wins from four of the five positions.
No. 2 pair Emma Galloway (SO/Del Mar, CA) and Hannah Wilmes (FR/Thornton, CO) claimed their sixth straight victory, earning a 21-9, 21-18 triumph over Eliza Cannon and Jameson Sanders.
Emilee Hall (SR/Redondo Beach, CA) and Madi Nash (SR/Tucson, AZ) also won in straight sets at the threes, topping Emily Elliot and Zuhal Cetin, 21-12, 21-14. The fours tandem of Madison Arnold (SO/Chatsworth, CA) and Bailey Coffin (JR/Tustin, CA) collected a win over Shelby Grubbs and Haley Roundtree, winning two tightly contested sets 22-20, 21-19.
Losing the first set did not detract from the focus of Chloe Knudson (SO/Coeur D' Alene, ID) and Ana Broadhead (FR/Nashville, TN), as the Lions No. 5 pair overcame Jaden Grova and Ayjah Sanders by scores of 8-21, 21-18, 15-11.
The VU No. 1 pair lost its first match of the season but not without a fight. Conley Harris (SR/Brea, CA) and Morgan Nash (SR/Tucson, AZ) fell by scores of 21-19, 22-20 to Ashley Pittman and Iane Henke of Cal State Los Angeles.
CUI 3, No. 2 Vanguard 2
The Lions tasted defeat for the first time in 2023 but took CUI to the wire.
The twos and threes were victorious for the Lions. Galloway and Wilmes notched a 21-15, 22-20 victory over Tatum Smith and Kelia Giusta for their seventh straight win.
At the No. 3 spot, Hall and Nash overcame Olivia Highstreet and Hailee Ryan by 22-20, 21-18 scores.
The Lions fell at the No. 1, No. 4 and No. 5 spots as the Golden Eagles took the win.
Lily Dyer and Carly Moreno made quick work of Hailey Petersen (SR/Omaha, NE) and Knudson at the fives, taking the 21-6, 21-8 victory.
Harris and Nash lost their second straight contest at the ones in a 21-13, 21-19 final to Hannah Phair and Sara Ostojic.
The toughest setback occurred at the fours where the Lions took the Golden Eagle duo of Kelissa Lemoine and Eva Prewitt to three sets, but Arnold and Coffin fell in an epic 21-14, 20-22, 15-13 battle.
Why Is It Important?: The Lions remain unbeaten against the NAIA.
What Was Said?: "One of the signs of a great team is being faced with obstacles and responding together," said Head Coach Kris Dorn. "We're definitely in adversity mode and we love how the ladies are responding together. All in all a good day."
What's Next?: Vanguard plays round three of the GSAC Rounds next Friday and Saturday at the Brookhurst and PCH Courts in Huntington Beach. The Lions square off against San Diego Christian at 11:30 a.m. and Arizona Christian at 2:00 p.m.
