HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - For the third year in a row, the nationally ranked No. 4 OUAZ Beach Volleyball team (16-8, 10-2) competed in the GSAC Tournament. Playing an impressive four matches, and making in to the Championship face- off, the Spirit took home runner-up to Vanguard. 

MATCH ONE: OUAZ 4, The Master's 1
The Spirit started the tournament off strong, taking on No. 3 The Master's to begin the competition. Heading into the tournament's first point were the GSAC court two leaders, Sam Leight and Mattea Wilson (12-2, 9-0). The pair finished things off first with a quick 21-11, 21-11 final to give the Spirit their first point. Next to finish were the 4's and 1's with Amanda Carlson and Grace Hughes (4) and Olivia Andersh and Livia De Pra (1) both picking up points in just two sets, with the latter deciding the fate of the match. 

The Spirit 3's picked up the final point going 22-20, 21-15 (Summer Hanks/Dayana Raygoza). In the end the Spirit were able to continue on in the winners bracket, while knocking The Master's down to the losers bracket.

MATCH TWO: OUAZ 1, Vanguard 4
Taking on the No. 1 seeded Vanguard, the Spirit were knocked into the losers bracket after collecting just one point against the lions. 

The Spirit's sole point came thanks to Carlson and Hughes, the No. 4 pair in the GSAC on court three, going a quick 21-14, 21-14 on court four to win the first point of the duel. Despite falling on the four remaining courts, three Spirit pairs forced the Lions into three sets (Andersh/De Pra, Hanks/Raygoza, Zoey Mohring/Cheyenne Higgins).

MATCH THREE: OUAZ 3, The Master's 2
Taking on their first match in the losers bracket, the Spirit matched up yet again with The Master's Mustangs in the semifinal round.  

Gaining the Spirit's first point was Carlson and Hughes, being forced to three sets but pushing through to win the 19-21, 21-14, 15-12 point. With the scales at 2-1 in favor of the Mustang's, Hanks and Raygoza earned the tying point in a 21-18, 21-20 finish. 

Competing in the 2-2 tie breaker was the GSAC's No. 2 Court one pair (11-7), Andersh and De Pra, battling through a hard three sets to ultimately decide the Spirit's fate. After going 21-19 in the first, the pair fell in a close 20-22 second but were able to hang on in the third to go 16-14 and advance the Spirit onto the Championship. 

MATCH FOUR: OUAZ 2, Vanguard 3
Battling for the GSAC Championship title was the No. 1 Vanguard and No. 2 Spirit. After falling to the Lions once in the tournament, the Spirit came back with a drive to win it. 

For the second time in the tournament, Carlson and Hughes earned the first point of the match, taking down the lions 21-14, 21-6 in the lowest point totals of the match. Unfortunately, the Spirit's second point came after the Lion win had already been decided on a three setcourt five matchup. Hanks and Raygoza still battled it out on court three going 16-21, 21-19, 15-9 to win the final point of the tournament. 

UP NEXT: 
The Spirit will learn their postseason fate on April 10 at 3 p.m. PT when the NAIA Tournament qualifiers are announced. If selected to compete, the tournament will take place from April 20-22 in Panama City Beach, Fla. The selection show can be watched at naia.org.