COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Warrior's hot start to Golden State Athletic Conference play hit a snag as they lost a hard-fought match in five sets to the Vanguard Lions. This is the first conference loss for Jessup as their record is now 3-7 overall and 2-1 in the GSAC.
After the game head coach, Tiger Shelton expressed his thoughts saying, "We played well and were right there. It could have gone either way." Shelton added, "We just need to keep playing our brand of volleyball and we will be ok. Vanguard is a really good team and you can't take that away from them, they earned it."
Each of these teams was getting a feel for the match as the first set lingered on, but the Warriors garnered momentum upon breaking a 14-14 tie. In doing so, Madalyn Miller and Mary Padilla strung together three straight points, putting Jessup up 17-14.
The Lions stayed close behind, eventually coming within one point as the Warriors lead was 24-23. However, it was Mallory Pazin who got the final kill of the set, giving Jessup a 25-23 set win.
The Warriors were battling hard in the second set as they led midway through, 13-10. The advantage was short-lived and the Lions pushed ahead to win the second set 25-20.
Jessup seemed primed for a third-set victory with a late four-point lead, 22-18. Unfortunately, the lead dwindled and the Lions pulled off a close one, 25-23.
After the Warriors quickly took the first two points and led early in the fourth, Vanguard wasn't going away quietly. The resurgence of the Lions had the Warriors down 9-13 before they rallied back. The Warriors scored eight of the next ten points to regain control.
The scoring run was enough to propel Jessup to a pivotal 25-20 set win to extend the match.
Once the fifth set began the Lions seized control upon the first serve, leading 3-0 to start. Unable to mount a comeback, the Warriors lost in a decisive fifth set, 15-5.
Four players ended in double-digit kills for Jessup as Taylor Dilley led the way with a double-double finishing with 16 kills and 13 digs. Also in double-figure kills was Madalyn Miller and Mary Padilla each with 11 and Taylor MacCuish had 10. Mallory Pazin had a team-high 30 assists while Ella Hartford ended with 15.
On defense, Lauren Toon led with 23 digs and Madison Marlow posted 10 while Miller and MacCuish each had a pair of blocks.
The Warriors will be returning home to host Arizona Christian University on September 24 at 5:00 PM.
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William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter and Instagram).
