Lions

Vanguard University announced Thursday that head women’s volleyball coach Erikka Gulbranson, as well as head baseball coach Scott Mallernee, have resigned. Gulbranson spent seven years as head coach, and leaves as the winningest coach in Vanguard volleyball history. She took over a three-win team in 2001, and led it to a winning record in just her third year. “Erikka completely shaped the volleyball program into one that is not only competitive in the [Golden State Athletic Conference]

Steve Virgen Selfishness and individualism became the demise for the Vanguard University men's basketball team last year. For the Lions, it was a lesson learned: You can have all the talent, but if you don't have team chemistry, forget about it. So, this year, Vanguard Coach Stephen French, now in his fourth year with the Lions, made sure to recruit team-first players and built a new foundation for his program....

The Vanguard University baseball team opened the season with an 8-6 loss to visiting Cal State Los Angeles but rebounded with a 4-1 victory over the Golden Eagles in a nonconference doubleheader Monday. In the second game, sophomore Marcus Harris pitched a complete-game three-hitter and the Lions came on strong early. Chad Chop drove in a run with a double and Andy Riddell followed with a two-run single to give Vanguard a 3-0 lead. The Lions (1-1)

Backup center scores 16 to help Vanguard women top one of their toughest foes yet and remain No. 1 in NAIA Division I.AZUSA -- Vanguard University's women's basketball team faced one of its toughest battles yet, and got some help from an unexpected source. Backup center Andrea Jacobson scored a season-high 16 points as the Lions defeated Azusa Pacific, 88-76, on Tuesday night. The game was a matchup of the No. 1 and No. 9 teams in NAIA Division I. Vanguard (17-0, 10-0) led from wire to wire, thanks in part to the play of Jacobson.

After two straight seasons of participating in the NAIA National Tournament, the Vanguard University struggled through a 2000 season and missed the playoffs entirely. But now with a healthy No. 1 pitcher and a stable, run-producing offense, the Lions have been making a lot of noise and are ready for a serious playoff run. The key factor to the Vanguard's success has been the offense. In their 16 losses, the Lions have scored two runs or less 14 times.

Vanguard leads nearly from wire to wire in a Golden State Athletic Conference women's basketball game against Fresno Pacific and remains unbeaten.FRESNO -- Vanguard University's women's basketball team didn't waste much time earning its 85-44 victory over Fresno Pacific in a Golden State Athletic Conference game Saturday afternoon. The game was settled early as Vanguard (14-0, 7-0 in conference), ranked No. 1 in NAIA Division I, led almost the entire way. Fresno Pacific's closest brush with the lead came when senior forward Melissa Montoya hit a jumper with 17:53 remaining in the first half to tie the score at 2-2. When Vanguard's Tiari Goold missed a three-pointer at the other end, the Sunbirds had a chance to take the lead.

If you were to base choosing Lion of the Week on picking an athlete with a tremendous work ethic, attitude, and spirit, it would be hard to find a better choice than Robbin Dittenbir. The senior guard from Dinuba is in her fourth and final season with the Lions and is the heart and soul of the women's basketball team at Vanguard University. If you go by production on the court, she is having the best season of her career statistically and is one of the main reasons the Lions are off to an 8-1 start in Golden State Athletic Conference play.

For the past four years, Jim Degroot was working basketball camps, never really thinking he would ever be a head coach. In Frenchtown, which is just outside of Missoula in Montana, Degroot also contributed to building a new church and also found his calling in speaking to teens about abstinence from sex until marriage. For four years, Degroot became one with his family and grew stronger in his beliefs. Meanwhile at Vanguard University, the men's basketball team went through the Cameron Dollar experiment in regard to the head coach after Bill Reynolds finished his time with the Lions.

COSTA MESA - Four Vanguard University basketball players were selected to the All-Golden State Athletic Conference men's and women's teams. Freshmen Kelly Boeke and Laura Lee along with junior Becki Huddle were All-GSAC women's selections, while junior Dennis Keane was the lone Lion picked for the All-GSAC men's team. Boeke averaged 15.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in conference, Lee averaged 12.9 points and 4.6 rebounds, while Huddle scored 13.1 points, grabbed 5.4 rebounds and dished out 6.7 assists per game.

RIVERSIDE -- Levi Seekins scored all nine of Vanguard's points in the second overtime and made the game-saving steal in a 73-71 victory over Cal Baptist in a Golden State Athletic Conference men's basketball game Thursday. Seekins finished with 28 points and nine rebounds for the Lions, putting them ahead for good on a jumper in the paint with 1:20 remaining. He added a free throw with eight seconds left and then stole the ball from Cal Baptist's Junior Denson in the final seconds.