Lions named All-Americans

The Vanguard University men’s and women’s distance medley relay teams

finished third to earn NAIA All-American honors at the NAIA indoor

track and field championships, completed Saturday in Johnson City,

Tenn.

Michael Larsson (3:06.2 in the 1,200 meters), Costa Mesa High

product Zach Powell (51.7 in the 400), Billy Smith (1:56.4 in the

800) and Matt Meyer (4:15.9 in the 1,600) combined for a time of

10:10.26 for the VU men.

The VU women’s clocking of 12:01.88 included Jenny Thune (3:42.1

in the 1,200), Jenifer Zipprich (59.6 in the 400), Christol McDonald

(2:16.8 in the 800) and Sarah Hall (5:03.4 in the 1,600).

“These were some pretty amazing efforts and incredible results,

especially considering that both teams were seeded eighth in their

event,” Vanguard Coach Bryan Wilkins said.

Vanguard sweeps Hope

* SOFTBALL: The Vanguard University softball team opened Golden

State Athletic Conference play with a doubleheader sweep of Hope

International Saturday at Bellis Park in Buena Park.

The Lions won the first game, 12-3, then closed out the sweep with

a 2-0 tirumph over the Royals to improve to 9-9.

Lindsey Dyer doubled in two runs in the second inning of the first

game and junior Holly Martinez had a two-run triple to key a five-run

third.

Vanguard pitcher Krystal Keltner was the beneficiary of the Lions’

11-hit attack, earning her third victory in five decisions this

spring.

Vanguard also benefited from five Royal errors in the six-inning

contest.

Freshman Jen Olvera prevailed in the pitcher’s duel that followed,

tossing a five-inning one-hitter for her second shutout of the

season.

Olvera retired the first nine she faced, as well as the final

nine.

Vanguard scored in the third when Vanessa Bolich reached on an

error, stole second and scored on a one-out single by Rachel Bomgren.

Both Vanguard runs were unearned as Hope International fell to

8-9, 0-4 in conference play.

Vanguard returns to conference action Tuesday, playing host to

Concordia in a doubleheader that begins at 1:30 p.m.

Lions fall to No. 1 APU

* TENNIS: The Vanguard University men’s tennis team, ranked No. 2

in NAIA Region 2, was handed its first loss of the season Saturday by

visiting No. 1-ranked Azusa Pacific.

APU earned a 7-2 Golden State Athletic Conference triumph to drop

the Lions to 9-1, 3-1 in conference.

The lone Vanguard victories were posted in singles by junior Lars

Dahlberg and sophomore Phillip Mardh.

Anteaters top Gauchos

* TENNIS: The UC Irvine women’s tennis team won 5 of 6 singles

matches and 2 of 3 doubles matches to post a 6-1 Big West Conference

victory at UC Santa Barbara Sunday.

UCI’s Anna Bentzer and Tiffany Chang won at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, respectively, then combined for a doubles triumph.

UCI’s Veronica Fermin also posted wins in singles and doubles,

teaming with Kelly Savin for the latter.

Other singles winners for the Anteaters (6-6) included Hui Leow

and Kristina Boss.

VU dominantes APU

* TENNIS: Junior Olfa Hlushchanka, freshman Amy Brown, junior

Alena Votavova, senior Silina Yohner and freshman Amanda Poynter all

won in singles and doubles to key Vanguard University’s 7-2 Golden

State Athletic Conference women’s tennis win Saturday over visiting

Azusa Pacific University.

The Lions improved to 9-0, 5-0 in conference.

Lions’ struggles mount

* BASEBALL: The Vanguard University baseball team’s Golden State

Athletic Conference victory drought continued Saturday when visiting

Azusa Pacific swept a doubleheader to drop the Lions to 0-7 in

conference this spring.

The Lions (5-11) fell in the opener, when APU rallied for three

runs in the eighth to claim a 5-3 triumph.

APU needed extra innings to win the second game, as it broke a 1-1

tie with a single tally in the eighth for a 2-1 win.

Scott Martin and Brandon Cox had RBI singles in the opener for

Vangaurd, which has now lost nine straight GSAC games, dating back to

last season.

Vanguard junior Nik Crouch had one-third of the Lions’ 12 hits in

the two games, while Sparks and freshman second baseman David Hudgins

collected three hits each.

VU plays host to Cal Lutheran Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.