Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The Whittier College volleyball team dropped their Colorado Invitational opener Friday afternoon to Baker University 27-25, 25-14, 25-17 dropping their record to 8-12, 3-7 SCIAC.

The Baker University Wildcats, the lone NAIA opponent Whittier will face this year was able to beat out the Poets in the first set 27-25 despite hitting .179 as a team.  They were led by Danielle French who recorded eight kills while Savannah Smith and Jana Boss each recorded seven kills apiece and 12 and 10 digs, each respectively.   

Whittier's Alyssa Sialaris finished with a season low six kills ten below her average and saw fellow teammate Lauren Whiteman record a team high eight kills her highest output this season.  

That was the only offense the Poets were able to gather as the next closest offensive presence was sophomore Katie Heard who finished with five kills.  Maria Montero finished with a team high 14 assists, while Alyssa Acosta led the Purple & Gold defensively with eight digs.

The first set saw nine ties and three lead changes as the Wildcats were able to stop a set point and rally to win four of the next five points to steal the first set away from the Purple & Gold.  Whittier was down a majority of the set until they tied it up at 18-18 and then took their second lead of the set at 19-18 and then extended that lead to 24-20 but again the Poets were unable to finish allowing the Wildcats to come from behind to take the first set. 

After Baker grabbed the first set it was all Wildcats from there as they stormed out in front in sets two and three maintaining the lead throughout in both sets not allowing Whittier to spark a late rally helping to preserve the victory. 

Whittier continues with the Colorado Invitational as they take on Colorado College this evening beginning at 6:00pm.