FULLERTON, Calif. -- The Vanguard STUNT season got underway for the Lions last night as the team opened on the road against an old NAIA opponent in Hope International. The Lions showed good poise against a team that had already taken three matches on the season, but HIU won three of the fourth quarters to win the contest 15-11.  The Lions start 2025 at 0-1 and HIU improved to 4-0.

HIU won the coin toss and started the first frame of partner stunts with a bang by calling the highest-rated perforce, routine eight. Vanguard declined to match, so it was up to the Royals to meet the standard to the letter and they did, putting the hosts up 1-0.  The Lions called routine four and took the point themselves to tie the game. Hope then selected routine seven and won that one, with each side taking a point on the last routine of the first frame to end with HIU ahead 3-2.

HIU had their bread and butter in the second quarter of pyramids and tosses, taking the maximum of four points.  The Royals stayed with their game plan of calling higher routines, but the Blue and Gold earned a point on routine four to cut the gap to 7-3 at halftime.

Coming back from the break, the Lions hit their stride in the third period of jumps and tumbling. Vanguard took the first three points in routines seven, two, and six to cut the deficit to one point. HIU snuck away with a point from the last routine of the frame to hold an 8-6 edge entering the final quarter.

The squads put all three periods together for the long routines of quarter four and the squads split the points evenly on routine four, the first act called.  Routine five was up next and it favored HIU, as the Royals took two of the three disciplines to increase their advantage to 12-9.  Both teams registered two points during routine six to make the score 14-11 HIU, but the Royals then called routine eight, and although they only made one point, the Lions could not answer to fall 15-11.

What was Said?  "A solid start for the Lions tonight," relayed Head Coach Leslie Allen.  "Improvements to come but overall, I'm very pleased with their start."

What's Next? The Lions gave HIU a good run and have some time to improve in practice before the team departs California for its next match, as Vanguard opens up a road series in Oklahoma starting Friday, February 14, against Dallas Baptist.