La Sierra

BASEBALL Doubleheader COSTA MESA — Host Vanguard won with mass production and with supreme efficiency to sweep both nonconference games against La Sierra on Wendesday. The Lions (20-24) had 12 hits in a 9-8 win in Game 1, then managed a 3-1 triumph despite collecting only two hits. Tyson Leighton went three for five with three runs batted in in the opener, including a home run and a triple. Gabriel Garcia pitched six shoutout innings, allowing one hit, in the seven-inning finale to improve to 7-4. Mike Leal and Robert Purpura posted saves for the Lions.

COSTA MESA — A dramatic finish displaced the built-in beginning theme, but Vanguard University baseball coach Rob Pegg was certainly unwilling to quibble with his first day of competition at the helm of his alma mater. Pegg's Lions rallied for four runs in their last at-bat of the seven-inning second game to defeat La Sierra, 5-4, and sweep the nonconference doubleheader on Monday at Vanguard. After senior third baseman Jason Ochart walked with the bases loaded to drive in the tying run, senior Jordan Mould scored from third on a wild pitch to senior Ethan Harper to spark a boisterous celebration after a game in which the Lions were down to their final out and trailing, 4-1. Senior Nikko Tountas began the winning rally with a one-out pinch double and, one out later, sophomore Taylor McKnight barely cleared the left-field fence with a two-run home run against La Sierra reliever Logan Duran.

COSTA MESA - Five players scored in double figures for the Vanguard University women's basketball team as the Lions dominated in a 107-27 nonconfeence victory over visiting La Sierra Tuesday. Vanguard (5-1) grabbed a 51-14 halftime lead and cruised to victory as the Lions' Kelly Boeke led with a game-high 21 points. Beth Weidler scored 19, Courtney McKinney finished with 16 points, while Laura Lee had 14 and Erin Edminston had 10. NONCONFERENCE Vanguard 107, La Sierra 27 La Sierra - Duffield 9, Meriedith 7, Barnes 5, Carbajal 4, Klytta 2. 3-pt goals - None.

COSTA MESA - Vanguard's women's basketball team scored the first 43 points in its game against La Sierra en route to an 87-30 win in the opening round of the Vanguard Christmas Tournament. La Sierra (2-11) shot 8 % in the first half as it found itself down 52-9 at half. Marisa Emde led Vanguard (10-2) with 21 points and was one of five Lions to score in double digits. Kelly Boeke had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds and Laura Lee scored 16 off the bench for the Lions.

COSTA MESA - All second-year Vanguard University men's basketball coach Rhett Soliday wanted for Christmas was a little confidence. The Lions' 82-78 nonconference victory over visiting La Sierra on Friday helped solidify that request, though there was more sobering news on the injury front for a program that is still trying to gain more substantial footing in the competitive Golden State Athletic Conference. Vanguard (7-4) ended the game with a 16-4 run to turn away the Golden Eagles (0-10)

COSTA MESA — Coming off a 34-20 season in which the Vanguard University baseball team was at various times, 15-1, 19-2 and 25-5, the bar has been raised for Coach Ralph Grajeda's Lions. But it took all of one game to equal the biggest margin of victory achieved by the 2010 unit, as Vanguard trounced visiting La Sierra, 15-0, in the nonconference season opener Tuesday. Only once did last year's Lions produce a 15-run win, in a Feb. 20 shutout at home against Bethany College.

RIVERSIDE — It was a position the Sage Hill girls' volleyball team didn't want to be in Saturday night in the CIF Southern Section Division 3-A quarterfinals. After holding a two-game advantage the Lightning found themselves going into a fifth game in a hostile environment at La Sierra High. Without any momentum, the visitors found a way to bounce back for the roller-coaster victory, 25-13, 25-15, 15-25, 14-25, 15-10. "Seriously, there's no words to describe this match," said Sage Hill outside hitter Halland Mckenna, who finished with a team-high 21 digs, 10 kills and six aces.

WOMEN’S SOCCER Vanguard 1, La Sierra 0 COSTA MESA — Sophomore Danielle Dintino scored in the 37th minute and junior goalie Jillian Foss made one save in the nonconference clash Monday at Vanguard. It was the fourth goal in four games this season for Dentino, who also has two assists for the Lions (4-0), who outshot the visitors, 19-3. La Sierra fell to 0-3. MEN’S SOCCER Vanguard 5, La Sierra 0 COSTA MESA — Three Lions came off the bench to score in the nonconference match Monday at Vanguard.

Lions stunned, 2-1 COSTA MESA — William Pellow scored to give Vanguard the lead in the fourth minute, but visiting La Sierra rallied to tie, then scored the game-winner in the 89th minute for a 2-1 nonconference victory in the men's soccer season opener for both on Wednesday. Sam Nichlson and Jack Plummer were each credited with an assist for No. 4-ranked Vanguard.

COSTA MESA -- Vanguard University's women's basketball team turned it on at the start of the second half with a 22-0 run to expand the lead to 58-22 en route to an 86-51 nonconference victory over visiting La Sierra Wednesday night. The Lions, now 8-4, were paced by the double-digit scoring of Courtney McKinney (23), Laura Lee (19), Robbin Dittenbir (17) and Paulette Seaman (15) en route to the blowout. Dittenbir led the way in rebounding with 10 boards.

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL Orange Coast def. Palomar COSTA MESA - Johannes Brink had a match-high 23 kills as the Pirates won the Pacific Coast Conference match, 22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21, on Friday night. Cody Martin added 12 kills for OCC (10-5, 6-3 in conference), and Austin Bagby had 10. Scott Enos had a team-high eight digs, and Brendan Duff dished out 45 assists. Nick Supple led Palomar (2-14, 1-8) with 10 kills. OCC plays at Grossmont on Wednesday. * MEN'S TENNIS Vanguard 9, Arizona Christian 0 COSTA MESA - Stefan Kilchhofer and Daymon Johnson each won in singles and combined to win at No. 1 doubles for the Lions in Friday's Golden State Athletic Conference match at Costa Mesa Tennis Center.

COSTA MESA — A dramatic finish displaced the built-in beginning theme, but Vanguard University baseball coach Rob Pegg was certainly unwilling to quibble with his first day of competition at the helm of his alma mater. Pegg's Lions rallied for four runs in their last at-bat of the seven-inning second game to defeat La Sierra, 5-4, and sweep the nonconference doubleheader on Monday at Vanguard. After senior third baseman Jason Ochart walked with the bases loaded to drive in the tying run, senior Jordan Mould scored from third on a wild pitch to senior Ethan Harper to spark a boisterous celebration after a game in which the Lions were down to their final out and trailing, 4-1. Senior Nikko Tountas began the winning rally with a one-out pinch double and, one out later, sophomore Taylor McKnight barely cleared the left-field fence with a two-run home run against La Sierra reliever Logan Duran.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Vanguard 72, Victoria BC 62 LA MIRADA - Nicole Ballestero scored 20 points to help the undefeated Lions improve to 9-0 after the Biola Holiday Classic victory Saturday. Esther Timmermans scored 14 points, Maya Kennedy had 10 points and Maree Drennan grabbed 12 rebounds for Vanguard. Victoria BC is 6-6. * Ventura 74, Orange Coast 58 VENTURA - Michelle Angel had 18 points for the Pirates in the semifinal game of the Ventura tournament Saturday at Ventura College.

RIVERSIDE — It was a position the Sage Hill girls' volleyball team didn't want to be in Saturday night in the CIF Southern Section Division 3-A quarterfinals. After holding a two-game advantage the Lightning found themselves going into a fifth game in a hostile environment at La Sierra High. Without any momentum, the visitors found a way to bounce back for the roller-coaster victory, 25-13, 25-15, 15-25, 14-25, 15-10. "Seriously, there's no words to describe this match," said Sage Hill outside hitter Halland Mckenna, who finished with a team-high 21 digs, 10 kills and six aces.

COSTA MESA - All second-year Vanguard University men's basketball coach Rhett Soliday wanted for Christmas was a little confidence. The Lions' 82-78 nonconference victory over visiting La Sierra on Friday helped solidify that request, though there was more sobering news on the injury front for a program that is still trying to gain more substantial footing in the competitive Golden State Athletic Conference. Vanguard (7-4) ended the game with a 16-4 run to turn away the Golden Eagles (0-10)

WOMEN'S SOCCER Orange Coast 2, Miramar 0 SAN DIEGO — Jessica Amaral had a goal and an assist to lead the No. 16-seeded Pirates past No. 9 Miramar in the second round of Southern California Regional playoffs Tuesday. Kiley Leshin scored for OCC (15-4-4) off an assist from Amaral in the 55th minute. Amaral later scored in the 70th minute, when Nicole Vanderlaan assisted. OCC goalie Katie O'Banion made five saves. Miramar finished the year at 17-1-2. The Pirates will play on Saturday in the Southern California Regional semifinals against No. 4 Santiago Canyon, beginning at 2 p.m. at Santiago Canyon College.

The Vanguard University women's volleyball team received an at-large berth into the 36-team NAIA Tournament and will play host to La Sierra in the opening round Saturday at 7 p.m. The No. 14-ranked Lions will among 24 teams competing in the opening round, hoping to advance to a round-robin tournament at the final site in Sioux City, Iowa. First-year coach Eryn Leja's Lions (21-12) finished tied for fourth in the Golden State Athletic Conference with a 10-8 record. Vanguard is led by 5-foot-10 senior outside hitter Jamie Heenan and fellow first-team All-GSAC honoree KaUwila Lavea, a 6-1 senior outside hitter and middle blocker.

Lions stunned, 2-1 COSTA MESA — William Pellow scored to give Vanguard the lead in the fourth minute, but visiting La Sierra rallied to tie, then scored the game-winner in the 89th minute for a 2-1 nonconference victory in the men's soccer season opener for both on Wednesday. Sam Nichlson and Jack Plummer were each credited with an assist for No. 4-ranked Vanguard.

BASEBALL Doubleheader COSTA MESA — Host Vanguard won with mass production and with supreme efficiency to sweep both nonconference games against La Sierra on Wendesday. The Lions (20-24) had 12 hits in a 9-8 win in Game 1, then managed a 3-1 triumph despite collecting only two hits. Tyson Leighton went three for five with three runs batted in in the opener, including a home run and a triple. Gabriel Garcia pitched six shoutout innings, allowing one hit, in the seven-inning finale to improve to 7-4. Mike Leal and Robert Purpura posted saves for the Lions.