FULLERTON, Calif. -- The Vanguard STUNT team opened the Hope International Tournament on Friday and took on Arizona Christian and Hope International.  VU first dispatched ACU 18-0 but could not power past HIU, falling 18-10.  Vanguard enters Saturday with a 12-7 record.
 
What Happened?  Hope took the first three routines of the first quarter of partner stunts, but VU claimed the last one to trail 3-1 entering the second period.  The frame of pyramids and tosses saw the Royals take three points, but they did not score on routine eight, leaving the door cracked opened for a VU comeback.
 
After the halftime break, the Lions, down 6-1, attacked the third period of jumps and tumbling with tons of energy. The effort proved more fruitful, as VU bagged three points in all, though HIU pocketed two points to lead 8-4.   The final quarter of the merged routines saw VU give a good battle to the hosts, but the Royals took the period 10-6 to claim the match 18-10.
 
The Blue and Gold handled ACU with ease to open the event, as the team won 18-0.  VU put up four points in each of the first three periods to lead 12-0 entering the final period.  The Lions had a few routines that the Firestorm could not take part in, as one of the newest teams around continues to build, but Vanguard did not allow ACU to steal a point late in the contest.
 
What's Next?  VU plays Jessup tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. and OUAZ at 1:00 p.m. at HIU.