MALIBU, Calif. – The Vanguard beach volleyball team finished out the regular season on Saturday with a pair of losses to NCAA Division I opponents San Francisco and UC Davis.

The Lions conclude the regular season 9-14 in their first foray at the NCAA Division II level. 

VU picked up a point in the 4-1 setback to the Dons before getting swept by the Aggies.

San Francisco 4, Vanguard 1

Vanguard took a 1-0 lead as Cassie Smits Van Oyen and Gianna Pecile gutted out a 21-18, 21-17 victory over Jacquelyn Strawn and Lucy Speier at the fours.

The Lions had the inside track to going up 2-0 when Paige Cutwright and Madison Arnold won the first set at the twos against Branson Lennon and Letzia Aquilino. But the Dons tandem eked out a 19-21, 21-16, 15-11 triumph to tie the match at 1-1.

San Francisco took the next three contests.

Thea Snider and Maya Jones, playing together as a pair at No. 1, fell 21-14, 21-10 to McKenna Towne and Kaydence Stormes.

The Lion No. 3 duo of Katie Alexander and Anne Mayfield dropped a 21-18, 21-14 decision to Rylie Reeves and Burkleigh Smith. 

At the No. 5 position, Francesca Stanschus and Raine Stevens battled to a 21-17, 21-15 win against Logan Daniels and Natalie Hill.

The Dons improved to 9-21 on the season.

UC Davis 5, Vanguard 0

UC Davis swept all five matches, with the closest coming at No. 2. Cutwright and Arnold gave a good account, but fell 21-17, 21-16 to Emily Uhrinak and Kendal Steller.

Smits Van Oyen and Pecile lost 21-6, 21-14 at the fours to Kimi Waller and Alexandra Leal.

At No. 1, Snider and Jones struggled against Kylie Miller and Tabitha Mitchell in a 21-7, 21-10 loss.

The fives resulted in Daniels and Hill falling 21-10, 21-9 to Lindsay Heller and Kate O'Steen, while Alexander and Mayfield dropped a 21-13, 21-10 contest to Skye Smolinski and Mia Olen.

The Aggies improved to 17-11 on the season.

What's Next?: The Lions travel to Gulf Shores, Ala. from April 17-19 to compete in the AVCA Division II National Championships.