GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Finishing off the tournament at Arizona Christian, Vanguard beach volleyball concluded with a sweep on Saturday, beating the hosting Firestorm 3-2 and Simpson (Calif.) 5-0. VU improved to 4-1 overall.
VU 5 ACU 2
The even pairings finished first, with the duo of Alyssa Robles and Abigail Nelson beating
Jenae Moore and
Anne Mayfield 21-7, 21-8 to put the Firestorm ahead. But as attention turned to the second flight,
Cassie Smits Van Oyen and
Jordan Packer cleared Jaiden Zeis and Jasmin Joseph 21-19, 21-12 to level the match. The first of the odd-numbered pairings to cross the finish line was the third pair of
Avery Bennett and
Hayden Johnston, who took down Abby Siebert and Haley Tedrow 21-11, 21-17 to put VU ahead. ACU then equalized at the ones, as Emee Fellens and Emily Casner upended
Thea Snider and
Josephine Springer 21-18, 21-14, rushing the troops of both sides to the court with the fifth pairing still playing.
Jadyn Starling and
Gianna Pecile needed three sets to net the pivotal victory, as they won the first interval against Kapri Espinoa and Lilly Petersen 21-17, but lost the second 21-13. Yet in the third, the duo pulled away to secure a 15-12 decision to take the pairing and the match.
VU 5 Simpson 0
The Lions took down the new Redhawks program with four wins, as Simpson were short one pair. The fourth grouping of Moore and Mayfield took the win by forfeit, with Bennett and Johnston taking the first competitive match 21-15, 21-17. Smits Van Oyen and Packer then usurped Tiara Manns and Emily Melo at the second flight 21-13, 21-19, followed by Starling and Pecile defeating Kiersti Howell and Alexia Andaya 21-19, 21-10. The top flight of Snider and Springer brought VU's time in Arizona to a close with a 21-6, 21-17 sweep of Kimora McKechnie and Brooklyn Jimenez.
What was Said? "Lots of sun and deep sand today. Our athletes competed well and took home some decisive wins," said Head Coach
Kris Dorn. "Now we're looking forward to sharpening ourselves from the weekend's feedback."
What's Next? The Lions go to Pepperdine for a 10:00 a.m. doubleheader, taking on the Waves first and then Washington at noon next Friday.
