Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College volleyball team took on the Regals of No. 8 Cal Lutheran University in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) competition on Friday night but came up short in a three-set decision.
The Poets showed off their potential in the second set having three set points before succumbing to the diverse offense of their opponents in the third and final set, 19-25, 25-27, 19-25.
The squads squared off for the second time this season while creating a back-and-forth affair that truly could have gone either way. Whittier had three set points in the second set to even the match at 1-1 but the Regals rallied back to win three straight points to clinch the second, which turned the momentum back into their favor heading into the third.
In the third set, the Regals jumped out in front 10-6 and maintained a small advantage throughout the set behind a .194 hitting percentage compared to Whittier's .000, helping them cruise to the straight sets victory.
Whittier was led by Alyssa Sialaris on offense who had a match high 16 kills on 41 attempts, outhitting her whole team by herself. The rest of the Whittier offense was held to 13 kills. Alayna Rigo was second on the team in kills with 5 on 25 attempts for a -.120 hitting percentage. Both Lindsey Kish and Rigo registered 9 digs, while Maria Montero finished with 23 assists.
In a match-up between the top two attackers in the conference (Sialaris and McLogan) Sialaris prevailed as Kylie McLogan finished with 7 kills on 27 attempts for a .037 hitting percentage compared to Sialaris who finished with 16.
The Regals were led by Allie Eason who tallied 13 kills on 31 attempts for an outstanding .355 hitting percentage. Defensively, Cal Lutheran made it difficult for Whittier to find any openings as three players recorded double digit digs, helping propel the Regals to their 11th SCIAC victory.
Whittier (8-15, 3-9 SCIAC) hits the road as they travel to Redlands, Calif., tomorrow, October 20 as they take on the Bulldogs of the University of Redlands at Currier Gym beginning at 3:00pm.
