NAIA SCHEDULE AND RESULTS | NAIA BRACKET
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – Vanguard posted a 1-1 record during pool play on day one of the 2023 NAIA Women's Beach Volleyball Invitational on Thursday, but had to play extra volleyball to determine its placement in the main bracket.
The Lions, the No. 2 seed in Pool B, ousted third-seeded Webber International 3-2 before falling to top-seeded Corban 5-0 in their second match of the day. Because each team went 1-1 during pool play, tiebreaker procedures required VU and Webber to play one set at each position to determine who would advance to play Corban.
The Lions won at the ones, twos and fours against the Warriors with the other two matches abandoned, as the two teams played to decision. VU then took the court against the Warriors of Corban. The Lions lost at four of the five positions to end the day where they started, as the No. 2 seed in the main bracket.
The Blue and Gold will face a familiar opponent in bracket play on Friday at 8:00 a.m. For the fifth time this season, VU will tangle with Golden State Athletic Conference rival OUAZ. The Spirit finished third in Pool A. Westcliff won Pool A with Park (Mo.) coming in second.
No. 2 Vanguard, No. 3 Webber International 2
The ones and fours won twice for the Lions in the same match to help them move to 1-0 on the day.
Conley Harris and Morgan Nash improved to 17-5 on the season with a 21-13, 22-20 victory over Cindy Garcia and Montana Pelak at the ones.
At the fours, Bailey Coffin and Madison Arnold knocked off Lily Arnold and Wanda Harris. The VU No. 4 pair overcame a first set loss and stormed back for the 13-21, 21-13, 15-10 decision.
Chloe Knudson and Ana Broadhead won their fourth consecutive match with a tight 21-19, 21-17 score against Abby Baxter and Delanie Johnson at the five.
Webber took victories at No. 2 and No. 3. The twos pair of Bailey Sikkema and Kendall Stewart snuck past Emma Galloway and Hannah Wilmes, 21-14, 21-17, while Nadia Reid and Kiersten Tissdale were victorious over Madi Nash and Emilee Hall, 21-17, 12-21, 15-12.
But more volleyball was in store for both teams due to the tiebreaker, as Corban had lost to Webber earlier in the day.
VU won its set at the ones, twos and fours to advance to play Webber. Harris and Nash joined Galloway and Wilmes with identical 21-16 scores, while Arnold and Coffin won their set 21-17.
No. 1 Corban 5, No. 2 Vanguard 0
The Lions played some competitive matches, but ultimately did not pick up a point in the 5-0 loss to Corban, a rematch of last year's national championship showdown.
The top two pairs for VU came closest to winning, taking both of their opponents to three sets.
Galloway and Wilmes won the first set, but fell to the sister tandem of Cameron and Kianna Keeling by scores of 15-21, 21-12, 15-8 at the twos.
All three sets were decided by two points at the ones, but Harris and Morgan Nash were on the wrong side of the 21-19, 20-22, 15-13 final against Megan Dennis and Avari Ridgeway.
Madi Nash and Hall lost by identical 21-18, 21-18 scores to Kealani Ontai and Ally Schmidt at the threes.
The Lions had a more difficult time at the bottom two spots on the ladder. Maya Blake and Jessica McMillian served up a 21-12, 21-14 defeat for the VU fours pair of Coffin and Arnold.
Knudson and Broadhead saw their winning streak snapped at No. 5, falling 21-16, 21-15 to Jolinn Daviscourt and Kalisi Latu.
Later in the day, the two teams played their tiebreaker set and the Warriors emerged with the 4-1 victory.
Galloway and Wilmes turned the tables on the Keeling sisters, taking the 21-18 victory.
However, the Blue and Gold could not win at any of the other positions. Hall and Madi Nash were nipped 21-19 by Ontai and Schmidt at the threes.
VU lost by identical 21-17 scores at the ones and fours. Daviscourt and Latu took the 21-15 triumph against Knudson and Broadhead at the fives.
Why Is It Important?: The winner of each pool earned an automatic bid to Friday's semifinals, needing to win just one match to advance to the championship. The second and third place finishers must win twice on Friday to get to the finals.
What Was Said?: "Today involved a LOT of volleyball," said Head Coach Kris Dorn. We're thrilled that we put ourselves in the position to win several times, but I think we've yet to see Vanguard BEACH at its best here. Hitting the drawing board tonight to make adjustments tomorrow."
What's Next?: The Lions are 4-0 this season against OUAZ, but have been in several close contests against the Spirit. The two teams clash at 8:00 a.m. PT. The winner will take on the nation's No. 1 team, Westcliff, in the semifinals at noon PT.
