GULF SHORES, Ala. -- Vanguard Beach Volleyball featured in two of its three Pool D matches earlier this Friday, beating Tusculum (Tenn.) but falling to Texas A&M-Kingsville in the first tilt of the day. The Lions went to 9-15 overall and have just one more match in Pool D tomorrow before bracket seeding is announced.
What Happened? Both matches were sweeps, with two pairs either not starting or not finishing, as the AVCA ends the match once a team gets to three pair victories. Against the Javelinas, the Lions did not get the top two flights in, as Kingsville took the third, fourth, and fifth pairs.
Avery Bennett and
Jordan Packer lost 21-18, 21-17 to Emma Daugherty and Kastyn Hoffman at the threes, while
Gianna Pecile and
Jadyn Starling dropped the fourth pairing 22-20, 21-12 to Elizabeth Williams and Kate Wozniak.
Anne Mayfield and
Jenae Moore were downed at the fives 21-19, 21-19 by Presley Gardney and Clara Presmanes-Garate.
But the Lions put a similar feel on the Pioneers, as VU took the first, second, and fourth pairings to come to level pegging at the event. Top pair
Thea Snider and
Josephine Springer won 22-20, 21-14 over Sofia Vega Barrantes and Hannah Marsh, while the second pair of
Hayden Johnston and
Cassie Smits Van Oyen bested Sylvia Liszewski and Brynn Smith 21-14, 22-20. The other VU win was the duo of Pecile and Starling, who topped Cooper George and Dasha Nikolaeva 21-16, 21-18.
What was Said? "Well, this was a tough way to be introduced to the championships," relayed Head Coach
Kris Dorn. "but we're proud that our ladies bounced back and competed well in our second match. Anyone here can win, and we came face-to-face with that fact today. Now our job is to get a win tomorrow and, hopefully, force a three-way tie!"
"We are so proud of
Elsa Gilmore and
Ily Attinger, and how they played and finished their season. They won their two matches in the Pairs Challenge, and they harnessed the win as an ally, and were an inspiration to the rest of us."
What's Next? The Lions take on the Sailfish of Palm Beach (Fla.) tomorrow at 2:40 p.m. PT tomorrow.
