IRVINE, Calif. -- Vanguard beach volleyball's senior day saw the squad take on both The Master's (#3 in the NAIA) and Mira Costa CC, but the Blue and Gold fell in both contests. TMU avenged its earlier defeat by the Lions with a 3-2 win, while Mira Costa grabbed a 4-1 decision. The Lions went to 6-6.
What Happened? In the meeting with the Mustangs, the Lions lost the odd-numbered pairs, with
Gianna Pecile and
Jadyn Starling falling to Krista Brady and Macy Gebhards 21-16, 21-13. At the second flight,
Avery Bennett and
Hayden Johnston tussled with Ashlan Van Gronigen and Isabela Rodriguez, with VU taking set one 21-17 and TMU set two 21-12. The third was close, but the TMU pair snagged the final two points to win 15-13. Down 2-0, Vanguard got a sweep at the third pairing, as
Jordan Packer and
Cassie Smits Van Oyen brushed aside Ashlyn Unurh and Addy Brock 21-13, 21-16. The fifth pairing came home next, which cinched the contest for The Master's.
Jenae Moore and
Anne Mayfield were neck-and-neck with Kayla Goodwin and Arianna DeRaffaele, losing set one 21-19 but bagging the second period 21-16. The pairs exchanged blows, but the TMU duo took set three 15-12 to get TMU to the finish line. The teams then went to the court with the top pairing to witness
Thea Snider and
Josephine Springer take a flight for VU, as the pair bested Zoe Yates and Emma Winter 21-16, 19-21, 15-12.
Against MCCC, the Blue and Gold had only one victory, as Moore and Mayfield beat Emily Musolf and Willow Snow 21-10, 21-17. Elsewhere, Snider and Springer lost to Kiara Keibel and Hailey Heflin 21-13, 21-13, and Bennett and Johnston fell 21-17, 21-14. Packer and Smits van Oyen were toppled 21-15, 21-19, and Pecile and Starling lost 21-16, 21-15.
What was Said? "Tough battles today. We've been improving a lot in practice, and it's good to be put to the fire," said Head Coach
Kris Dorn. "And after some sickness and injury, a hot day in the sun, working hard is good for the soul. We also got to love and honor our graduating class with our extended family."
What's Next? VU returns to Pepperdine for matches against Tulane and the Waves starting at noon on Friday.
