HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – Vanguard claimed its third consecutive Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament championship after defeating OUAZ 3-2 in the finals on Thursday at Huntington State Beach.
The Lions earned the GSAC's automatic bid into the NAIA Tournament with the victory. VU is 15-0 against GSAC opponents this season, which includes four wins against OUAZ. VU enters the NAIA postseason with a 17-4 overall record. OUAZ reached the final with a win over The Master's earlier that morning. The Spirit fell to 16-8 overall on the season.
What Happened?: Chloe Knudson and Ana Broadhead earned the match-clinching victory for the Lions at the fives with a hard fought 21-16, 18-21, 15-7 triumph over Zoey Mohring and Cheyenne Higgins. The win put VU up in the match 3-1.
As Lion teammates celebrated off to the side, the No. 3 court was finishing up its match. OUAZ's Summer Hanks and Dayana Raygoza closed out a three-set win of its own, downing Madi Nash and Emilee Hall by 16-21, 21-19, 15-9 scores.
VU followed the theme of falling behind and climbing back. For the third straight tournament match, the Lions faced a 1-0 deficit.
Amanda Carlson and Grace Hughes put the Spirit up 1-0 with a 21-14, 21-6 triumph at the fours over Bailey Coffin and Madison Arnold.
The Lions turned to their all-conference pairs to restore order. Emma Galloway and Hannah Wilmes posted a tidy 21-15, 21-13 win over Sam Leight and Mattea Wilson to tie the match at 1-1.
The GSAC Pair of the Year, Conley Harris and Morgan Nash, followed at the ones. They won a tight 22-20 first set against Olivia Andersh and Livia De Pra before taking the second 21-14.
That left Knudson and Broadhead to finish the deal. OUAZ made a late push to take the second set and tie the match, but the Lion duo stormed out to an early lead in the third and never looked back.
Hall and Harris have been a part of all three VU championships.
Why Is It Important?: The Lions are 5-0 in matches against GSAC opponents that have been decided by 3-2 scores this season.
What Was Said?: "The win today was a testament to all the hard work and togetherness this team has displayed throughout the season," said Head Coach Kris Dorn. "The partnerships these women have formed have strengthened with each match, and I'm proud of how they have learned to deal with whatever adversity comes their way. We're looking forward to the national tournament."
What's Next?: The NAIA Beach Volleyball National Invitational will take place April 20-22 in Panama City Beach, Fla.