SAN DIMAS, Calif. – In a Golden State Athletic Conference showdown between two teams tied for first place and owners of double-digit win streaks, Vanguard women's volleyball impressed in a four-set road victory over Life Pacific on Friday evening.

The Lions (15-1, 5-0) won by set scores of 25-15, 21-25, 25-13, 25-17 inside the Hicks Student Center.

VU extended its winning streak to 13 straight matches – the program's longest since breaking off 16 in a row in 2015. The Lions subsequently ended Life Pacific's 10-match winning streak and dropped the Warriors to 14-3 overall and 4-1 in conference play.

The Blue and Gold held leads of 12 points in sets one and three, and led by as many as eight in set four.

Sophomore Morgan Cole pounded a match-high 15 kills in hitting .448 (15-2-29) overall. Fellow sophomore Delaney Hill tied her career best with 14 kills for the second consecutive match, with the outside hitter swinging at a .367 (14-3-30) clip. Hill has emerged as a big threat in GSAC play, hitting .355 overall over five conference matches.

Callie Bickmore chipped in nine kills and Bailey Olbur had eight kills on .583 hitting.

The Lions hit over .300 for the fourth time this season, posting a .326 mark with the setter tandem of Rachel Lim and Madeline DeLucia handing out 33 and 21 assists, respectively.

Three Lions were in double figures in digs, with Blair Dodge leading the way with 12. Natalie Escher and Lim had 11 apiece.

Hannah Caddow paced the Warriors with a 14-kill, 12-dig double-double.

What Happened?

Set 1 – Cole started fast with four early kills – and the Lions used a 5-1 run to stake an 8-3 lead. The two teams exchanged sideouts until an LPU service error and attack error forced a Warrior timeout with VU leading 13-7.

The Lions continued to roll out of the break, crafting a 5-0 run to lead 16-7. Cole, Olbur and Bickmore scored the last three points to stretch the advantage to nine. The lead eventually ballooned to 22-10 as VU engineered a 10-3 run, forcing another LPU timeout.

VU ended the set on a Bickmore kill for the 25-15 victory. Cole hit .857 (6-0-7) in the frame, while Bickmore, Olbur and Hill had three kills apiece. The Blue and Gold hit a scorching .625 (17-2-24), with LPU held to .250 (12-5-28) hitting.

Set 2 – Both teams battled through six lead changes and six ties, but Life Pacific leaned on a late 5-0 run to tie the match a set all.

With the score even at 4-4, the Warriors went on a 4-0 run to force a VU timeout. Mackenzie Stewart was in on two blocks, while Caddow had a kill and a service ace to carve out the 8-4 edge. The Lions responded with a 4-0 run of their own to knot the score at 8-8, forcing the Warriors into four straight attack errors, three by Bailey Collette.

The Warriors opened up a 12-9 advantage, but the Lions retook the lead at 15-14 following a 6-2 run, with Bickmore and Cole providing two kills each. Caddow knocked down three kills during one stretch to hand the lead back to LPU at 18-16.

Bickmore solo stuffed Peyton Ertle to give VU its final lead at 20-19. The Warriors tied the score on a Mackenzie Grooms kill, and then Kei'ana Pascua took over from the service line. The LPU libero's tough serving, which led to two aces, extended the home side's run to 5-0 and a set point. Hill's kill fought off one set point, but a VU service error gave LPU the 25-21 victory. VU calmed down to .190 hitting in the frame.

Set 3 – The Lions wasted no time establishing command of the set, blazing out to a 5-0 lead. Two kills by Olbur helped the cause as LPU burned a timeout. Leading 6-2, the Lions further dusted the Warriors with a 9-3 surge, forcing another timeout at 15-5. Jenesis Rios had back-to-back aces to put LPU into a double-digit hole.

VU's lead reached 11 at 17-6 on a Viktoria Dickson kill, but the Warriors fired back with a 4-0 run.

The Warriors managed to score just three more points the rest of the set as VU ended on an 8-3 run. Cole picked up four more kills, getting hot with three down the stretch. Hill's slam gave VU the 25-13 win, the 12-point difference equaling the largest of the match.

The Lions roasted offensively with .357 (12-2-28) efficiency, while limiting LPU to an .091 (9-6-33) clip.

Set 4 – Momentum firmly planted in VU's court, the Warriors continued to fight and broke out to a 5-2 lead as a string of errors bugged the Lions.

But the teams played close with six ties and six lead changes. The Lions took the lead for good at 10-9 following successive kills from Kayla Robinson, Dickson and Hill.

After trailing 9-7, the Lions bombarded the Warriors with a 13-3 run to take a commanding 20-12 lead. Adeline Galvanoni entered the fray, providing a spark off the bench with three kills and two blocks to key the Blue and Gold's late run.

Galvanoni combined with Olbur to stuff Collette on match point as VU won 25-17.

Why Is It Important?: The Lions continue to play fantastic defense, as no GSAC opponent has hit better than .166. VU opponents are hitting a cumulative .129 in GSAC play.

What Was Said?: "I'm extremely proud of our team, especially our response to set two," said Head Coach Jennifer Dorn. "We are on a mission and it's evident. We are using our assets well and making the adjustments in our play. We are right where we want to be at this point in the season."

What's Next?: The Lions return to GSAC action on Friday, September 29 against Arizona Christian. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Calvary Chapel High School.