IRVINE, Calif. – Vanguard beach volleyball took on two NCAA Division II opponents on Friday and came away with a split, defeating Cal State Los Angeles 5-0 before losing 4-1 to CUI.
The No. 3 pair of Paige Cutwright and Gianna Pecile went 2-0 on the afternoon, picking up the lone point for the Lions against the Golden Eagles. VU snapped a three-match losing streak with the victory over Cal State Los Angeles.
VU is now 5-8 on the season, while CSLA dropped to 0-3 and CUI moved to 5-4.
#6 Vanguard 5, Cal State Los Angeles 0
The Lions swept matches at the top four spots and went the distance at the fives.
At the twos, Madi Nash and Madison Arnold cruised to a 21-8, 21-15 victory over Haley Roundtree and Shelby Grubbs. The Lions took a 2-0 lead at the fours, where Bailey Coffin and Kortney Hitt took down Jameson Sanders and Samarah DaCoud by a 22-20, 21-17 margin.
VU won the match at No. 1 when Emma Galloway and Hannah Wilmes fought off Ashley Dittmann and Matalasi Danielson, 21-19, 21-18.
The Lions kept winning as Cutwright and Pecile outlasted Zuhal Cetin and Tehya Chadwick at No. 4 with a 22-20, 21-17 triumph.
Completing the sweep was Emily Hon and Logan Daniels at No. 5, overcoming a first set loss to defeat Juliana Speiski and Rebecca Topete in three sets – 15-21, 21-18, 15-12.
CUI 4, #6 Vanguard 1
The Lions battled but came up short against the Golden Eagles. CUI took a 1-0 lead as Sara Ostojic and Tatum Smith prevailed in a 21-15, 19-21, 15-13 win over Nash and Arnold.
The Blue and Gold fell behind 2-0 at the fours as Coffin and Hitt could not overcome Jordyn Nichols and Lexi Goodbye in a 21-15, 21-18 loss.
Galloway and Wilmes lost by an identical score at the ones as Kali Uhl and Kelissa Lemoine secured the win.
Cutwright and Pecile got the Lions on the scoreboard with a comeback win at the threes, earning a 10-21, 21-14, 16-14 triumph over Korah Nordin and True McCullough.
The Golden Eagles polished off the win as the No. 5 pair of Nicole Miller and Makena Houston topped Hon and Daniels by a 21-10, 21-9 final.
What's Next?: The Lions tussle with Life Pacific and Hope International on Saturday at the Brookhurst and PCH Courts in Huntington Beach.
