In the morning match against Embry-Riddle, the Lady Cougars (6-3) picked right back up where they left the night before when they upset NAIA No. 10 Vanguard (Calif.) University as MVNU made quick work of Embry-Riddle 25-13, 25-16, 25-12. Junior middle hitter Jackie Albrecht led the Lady Cougars with 11 kills and nine digs, while sophomore middle hitter Gina Porto (left) pounded 10 kills with five blocks. Senior setter Kaylin Austen handed out 33 assists to go with nine digs, and senior right-side hitter Courtney Springer and junior middle hitter Sarah Yutzy swatted nine and seven kills respectively. Junior defensive specialist Caitlin Myles also posted a team-high 18 digs.

"I thought we showed up ready to play against Embry-Riddle,” said MVNU coach Paul Swanson. "It was nice to be able to get some other players involved, and it was really nice to see us play with a lot of consistency.”

That set the stage for the Lady Cougars to play for the tournament championship in their final match of the two-day event as MVNU was set to square off against the host Sea Lions (4-0) in a battle of two teams who had gone 3-0 so far in the Seaside Invitational.

The Lady Cougars got off to a great start in the match as they took the first set 25-22. After Point Loma Nazarene won the second set 25-21, MVNU bounced back to take a 23-19 lead in the third set as the Lady Cougars appeared ready to take a 2-1 set lead in the match. However, the Sea Lions ran off the next six points to pull out a 25-23 win. Then, Point Loma Nazarene claimed the fourth set 25-20 to take the match.

MVNU was led by Porto with 14 kills and Springer with 12 kills and 13 digs. Albrecht added 10 kills and 20 digs, while Austen handed out 41 assists to go with two aces and 13 digs. Myles (right) finished with 17 digs and two aces, and freshman outside hitter Kaylee Hewitt contributed 13 digs. Yutzy and senior outside hitter Julie Haumschild also pounded eight and seven kills respectively. The Sea Lions were led by 6-foot-3 sophomore outside hitter Tabitha Henken, who finished with a staggering 37 kills - the second-highest total in program history.

"This was another great match against a great team,” said Swanson. "(Point Loma) is an excellent ball control team and we were really up to the challenge today. I was very pleased with our effort. The biggest difference in the match was that we did not have an answer for Henken. She was unstoppable tonight.”

The Lady Cougars wrap up their first-ever trip to California with a 3-2 record that includes the program’s first win over a Top 10 team. MVNU will return home on Sunday and get ready for the team’s home opener on Tuesday night when the Lady Cougars will host Ursuline College in a non-conference match that will begin at 7:00 p.m.

"We found out on this trip that we have the potential to compete with some of the very best teams in the nation,” said Swanson. "However, that takes every single player working hard and giving their best effort on every play. If we can consistently do that, we can compete with anyone. We just need to find that consistency and continue to improve individually and collectively.”