Vanguard University

Vanguard University sophomores Jessica Neves and Kelly Heenan have been named All-Golden State Athletic Conference in women's volleyball. Neves, a 6-foot-2 opposite and setter, led the Lions with 305 kills, while adding 284 assists to help the Lions finish 17-15 and reach the NAIA Tournament. Heenan, a transfer from UC Santa Barbara and a Newport Harbor High product, had a team-best 562 digs from her libero position. Heenan also shared the team lead with 33 aces. Brooke Marino of Concordia was the Player of the Year and Robert Blanken of The Master's was named Coach of the Year.

The Vanguard University women's soccer team, ranked No. 2 in the NAIA and coming off regular-season and tournament championships in the Golden State Athletic Conference, play host to Embry Riddle of Arizona in the opening round of the 32-team NAIA Tournament on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Lions (16-2) are on a 12-game winning streak during which they have outscored opponents, 39-2. Vanguard, the No. 3 national seed, needs a win to advance to the 16-team draw that will compete in Orange Beach, Ala. beginning Nov. 26. Coach Randy Dodge's Lions, led by junior transfer Jordan Davidson, who has 16 goals and nine assists, defeated Embry Riddle, 2-0, in their season opener on Sept.

COSTA MESA - While the Vanguard University women's soccer team continues to add to the trophy case, Lions Coach Randy Dodge said it's the pillow case that should be foremost on his players' minds. With a landmark season swinging into its stretch run, including a 2-1 victory over visiting Biola in the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament title game Friday to propel the No. 4-ranked Lions into the 32-team NAIA Tournament, Dodge hopes his players continue to consistently justify their peace of mind before nodding off each night.

COSTA MESA - In a truly convincing bit of coincidence Thursday night, Vanguard University junior transfer Nicole Ballestero proved that San Diego's loss was, well, a loss for San Diego. Ballestero, who played the last two seasons at the University of San Diego, scored a collegiate high 29 points to help the Lions thump San Diego-based Point Loma Nazarene, 82-51, in the nonconference women's basketball season opener for both at the Pit. Ballestero, who scored 58 points last season in 26 reserve appearances, made 12 of her first 15 field-goal attempts for her most productive offensive performance since she was a four-time All-CIF Southern Section performer at Villa Park High.

An initiative created by the Churches Consortium and Vanguard University is attempting to address Costa Mesa's homeless population, one person and one interview at a time. The volunteer-run YOU Count program involves taking a census of the city's homeless population, followed by in-person interviews. The program is in its first year after a trial run last year. The census portion began Monday. About 50 people took to the streets early that morning to provide an estimate of how many homeless are in the city.

Vanguard University senior Amanda Couch has been named Golden State Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week in women's soccer. Couch had a goal and an assist in Saturday's 3-0 home conference win over Arizona Christian and added a goal in a 2-0 GSAC triumph over San Diego Christian on Oct. 3. Couch leads the No. 11-ranked Lions in assists (six) and is second in goals (six) and points (18). Vanguard is 9-2, 5-0 in conference and has posted shutouts in five straight wins.

Vanguard University junior forward Jordan Davidson was named Offensive Player of the Week and Lions' sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Terry earned Defensive Player of the Week in the Golden State Athletic Conference. Davidson had both goals in a 2-0 GSAC road upset of then-No. 9-ranked Westmont on Sept. 25. She collected two assist in a 3-0 GSAC home win against Hope International on Saturday. Davidson has eight goals and four assists for the Lions (6-2, 2-0 in conference), ranked No. 11 in the NAIA.

Kristina Kuzmic believes anyone can cook. The host of "The Ambush Cook" proved her theory when brought her show's theme to Family Weekend at Vanguard University on Saturday. Kuzmic, a 2001 theater alumna, won the "Your OWN Show: Oprah's Search for the Next TV Star" competition in 2010. In her show, she teaches unsuspecting people how to cook. She said these people, from new moms to bachelors, needed to know how to cook. At Saturday's demonstration at the Costa Mesa campus, Kuzmic invited unsuspecting Vanguard freshman Erika Gray, 17, to the stage to learn how to cook a caramelized onion butternut squash tart.

Vanguard University junior Jordan Davidson has been named Golden State Athletic Confernce and NAIA Offensive Player of the Week after posting four goals and an assist in two games last week. Davidson, a forward, scored twice in a 4-0 win over No. 17-ranked Kansas Wesleyan on Sept. 3. She then had two goals and an assist in the Lions' 6-0 trouncing of Soka on Friday. The transfer from Paradise Valley Community College in Arizona has five goals in three games for the Lions (3-0)