BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Vanguard beach volleyball hit the sand courts of CSU Bakersfield today for matches against The Master's and the hosting Roadrunners. The Lions edged out the number three team in the NAIA 3-2, but dropped to CSUB 5-0, putting VU at 6-5 overall. TMU went to 6-4 on the day, and the Roadrunners, who also beat TMU, went to 3-4.
What Happened?
Against the Mustangs, the Lions won the match with the third pairing, as things were level at 2-2.
Avery Bennett and
Hayden Johnston were clipped 21-12, 20-22, and 13-15 by Ashlan Van Groningen and Isabela Rodgiruez at the twos, but Jadyn tarling and
Gianna Pecile toppled Macy Gebhards and Krista Brady at the fours to level things at 1-1. The Mustangs also captured the first flight, as
Thea Snider and
Josephine Springer were held in check 21-15, 21-11 by Emma Winter and Zoe Yates. But at the fives, the Lions had
Jenae Moore and
Anne Mayfield win over Kayla Goodwin and Brandy Penberthy 219, 21-12. TMU's Addy Brock and Ashlyn Unruh took
Jordan Packer and
Elsa Gilmore to the third set, as the squads surrounded the court. Gilmore and Packer took the first set 21-19, dropped the second 21-17, but cruised to a 15-7 win in the third to capture the match for Vanguard.
While the Lions dropped all five pairings to the Roadrunners, it was not a cakewalk for the hosts. Snider and Springer pushed Erika Mankentin and Olivia Silacci-Jensen to three sets, taking the first 21-12 but falling in the next two 21-16 and 15-12. Bennett and Johnston did the same, taking set one 21-18 over Olivia Ostler and Sophia Anderson, though the CSUB pair won the next two 21-17, 15-12. Packer and Gilmore were upended by Vivi Kaelin and Kendall Kaelin 21-11, 21-15, and Kately Milne and Kylie Taylor bested Moore and Mayfield 21-7, 21-15. Elle Ensign and Vianna Garcia won over Starling and Pecile 21-8, 21-8.
What's Next? A trip to the OC Great Park brings a rematch against TMU on March 14, with a second tilt against Mira Costa coming in the afternoon.
