MALIBU, Calif. -- Vanguard Beach Volleyball had two tough matches against NCAA Division I teams on Friday, dropping games to Tulane and Pepperdine by 5-0 score lines.  VU did not win a pair but did take two total sets across both games.  VU fell to 6-8.
 
What Happened?  The first set win of the day came at the top pair for Vanguard, which was the last to finish the match against Tulane.  Thea Snider and Josephine Springer lost the first set to Molly Trodd and Skylar Ensign 21-18, but returned to conquer set two 21-6.  The pair battled hard in the third, but the Tulane twosome prevailed 15-8.  In order of match finish, Cassie Smits Van Oyen and Hayden Johnston lost 21-10, 21-10 to Katie Hansen and Emma Morris at the twos, with Anne Mayfield and Jadyn Starling were bested by Giorgia Walther and Gigi Gallegos 21-14, 21-15 at the fours.  Jenae Moore and Gianna Pecile were upended by Gabbi Kucinski and Lauren Mann at the fives 21-7, 21-11, while Ily Attinger and Avery Bennett dropped their third-pair matchup against Tawny Ensign and Amirah Ali 21-8, 21-10.
 
Once more, the VU set win came in the final grouping to finish, as Moore and Pecile faced Bella Avelar and Kenzi McSpadden at the fives.  The Lions took set one 21-14, but the Waves grabbed the next two 22-20 and 15-7.  The fours finished first, with Starling and Mayfield falling 21-8, 21-11 to Ginevra Merlini and Emi Erickson, with Attinger and Bennett closing the next scene with a 21-10, 21-16 defeat to Alice Jagielska and Sonia Mancuso.  Smits Van Oyen and Johnston dropped to Gabbie Perez and Maddy Snow 21-10, 21-13 in the second flight, and Snider and Springer next across the line against Michaela Cyrani and Emma Eden, who won 21-16, 21-16.

What was Said?  "Both matches today allowed us to sharpen the skills we've been addressing in practice, and simultaneously pointing us in the direction of positive change.  Brutual heat, but we're glad we get tomorrow off heading into character week with seven matches," said Head Coach Kris Dorn.
 
What's Next?  While CUI is technically hosting the event, VU is "home" at the Huntington Beach Courts on Tuesday for a 10:00 a.m. match against UC Davis and a 2:00 p.m. tilt against CUI.