Glendale, Ariz.- After several close matches against NAIA Top 15 teams this season, Arizona Christian upset No. 1 ranked Vanguard in straight sets on Saturday afternoon.
Chris Beck was the only player in the match to reach double digit kills and he did so by setting a new ACU record with 28 kills.
Match Info
- Match score: Arizona Christian- 3, Vanguard- 0
- Set 1: ACU 25-23
- Set 2: ACU 25-14
- Set 3: ACU 25-23
- Records: Arizona Christian- 9-9, 3-5 GSAC, Vanguard- 14-4, 8-1 GSAC
- NAIA Top 10 Rank: Arizona Christian- RV, Vanguard- 1
- Location: Firestorm Recreation Center, Arizona Christian University, Glendale, AZ
ACU Stats
Inside the Box Score
- The Lions scored the first point of the match
- A Hansen kill and VU attack error gave ACU the lead at 2-1
- Trying to play catchup, Vanguard forced a total of six more ties up to 10-10
- The eighth tie of the set came at 21-21
- But a block by Cade McGee and Korbin Torres followed by a Beck kill gave ACU the lead for good in the set
- Kills from Beck, Hansen, Johannesen, and Beck again gave Arizona Christian a 4-0 cushion to start the second set
- There was not even a tie in the set
- Set three featured 12 ties and two lead changes
- With ACU ahead 17-16, a string of 14 straight alternating points by the teams sent the Firestorm to match point at 24-23
- A VU attack error sealed the upset win for Arizona Christian
- Beck hammered out 14 kills in the final set
- Beck had 50 or more swings in a match for the third this season
Thoughts from Coach Bruns
"I could not be prouder of the guys. We have known we were going to take someone down this year. Just makes it that much better that it was number one. No words for Chris's performance. Completely unreal."
Up Next
Arizona Christian will look to continue their upset swing on Wednesday when they head to number six OUAZ. Match time is set for 6:00 pm in Surprise.
