By Beth Renkoski
11/03/09
No. 11 Lions Track Down No. 25 Warriors
Santa Barbara, Calif. – Dropping to No. 11 in today’s NAIA rankings after losing three straight matches to three of the top five teams in the nation and the top three teams in the GSAC, the Vanguard Lions needed a win tonight against No. 25-ranked Westmont College. Defeating the Warriors 3-0 in their first meeting of the season, the Lions needed five sets to take down the hosts and get back on the winning track. Falling behind 2-1 after 24-26, 25-16, and 24-26 decisions, the Lions won the last two sets by scores of 25-21 and 15-13 to clinch their first win in two weeks.
The first set was a battle from the start. Trading points the entire contest, Vanguard pulled in front for the largest lead of the set 20-16 late in the action. However, the Warriors fought back with an 8-4 run to tie the score 24-24, and then finished off the Lions with a pair of back-to-back kills for the 26-24 win.
The Lions took charge in the second set, capitalizing on 10 Warrior attacking errors and cruising to a 25-16 victory to tie the match at one set apiece.
Once again the third set was a seesaw battle won by the Warriors. The Lions found themselves trailing 17-20 but clawed back to take a 23-21 advantage before the hosts scored five of the next six points for the 26-24 win and a 2-1 lead in the match.
Facing elimination as they trailed 17-12 in the fourth set, the Lions dug deep and came up with a little more heart to pull themselves out of a dangerous hole. Consecutive kills by Heather DeJongh tied the score 19 all and then gave the Lions a one point lead, 20-19. Aided by a couple more Warrior attacking errors, the Lions completed the 25-21 decision to force a deciding fifth set.
The fifth set was evenly matched as well with neither team giving in easy. The Lions finally broke through for good when senior Kelsey Wirt put Vanguard on top 13-12, forcing a timeout for the Warriors. Returning to the court from the huddle, the Lions responded by wrapping up the match with a pair of Lisa Morgan kills for the 15-13 decision in the set and a 3-2 victory in the match.
Suffering a heart-breaking defeat, the Warriors were led by Katelyn Lowry’s 13 kills and setters Candace Adema and Kailee Blair with a combined 47 assists. The Warriors dip to 15-12 overall and 6-11 in GSAC.
Wirt topped all players with 24 kills, followed by DeJongh with 17 and Morgan with 11. Senior setter Meghan Walsh delivered a match-high 56 assists and four players picked up double digit digs as Vanguard broke its losing streak and improved to 16-10 overall and 10-7 in GSAC.
The Lions continue the regular season at Biola on Thursday with a 7:00 p.m. match against the Eagles.
Boxscore