Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whittier College volleyball team wrapped up Day 2 of the Whitman Invitational with one of the most memorable victories in Whittier College volleyball history earning a 33-31 victory in the fourth game to clinch the four set victory over Luther College.

In one of the most entertaining finishes to a match, Whittier College proved to be one of the more dominant teams in the tournament finishing with a 3-1 overall record, losing in three sets to Whitworth College 25-23, 25-18, 29-27 and then winning in the nightcap over Luther College 25-23, 21-25, 25-18, 34-31 in one of the most memorable matches in head coach Ali Oliver's tenure. 

In the first match the Poets were pinned against the Pirates of Whitworth College ranked No. 25 in Div. III and showed that the four matches in two days was not getting to them as they battled throughout led by Alyssa Sialaris who again led the Poets in kills for the sixth straight match as she finished with 15 kills on 47 attempts to go with six digs. 

Junior Alayna Rigo followed in her footsteps finishing with her second double double of the season with 10 kills on 31 attempts to go with 12 digs.  Lindsey Kish anchored the defense finishing with 18 digs, while freshman Torrey Mitsunaga led the offense with 30 assists giving the Poets numerous opportunities to win throughout the match.

In the nightcap, Whittier jumped out in front against Luther College winning the first set 25-23 and then saw Luther rally back in the second to even the match at one a piece.  But Whittier prevailed pulling out the third 25-18 and then the fourth 33-31 in a set that saw both squads play in the end with no subbing opportunities forcing both head coaches to play with the teams that were on the court. 

Senior Alyssa Acosta saw her name called late in the match being forced to play the front row despite being a defensive specialist for the entire game but she stepped up to the occasion and earned her lone kill of the match that gave the Poets a match point.  On the ensuing point, Whittier's Katie Heard earned the final point that earned the Poets their fifth win on the season. 

Sialaris led the Poets in the kill category once again finishing with a big double double of 23 kills on 58 attempts to go with 19 digs, while Rigo finished with her second straight double double of 12 kills and 10 digs.  In the back row, junior Kish finished with a game high 18 digs, while Mitsunaga continued to make an impact with 25 assists.

The Poets return home to Los Angeles, Calif. tomorrow and will now begin preparing for their SCIAC Opener against Redlands University on Saturday, September 15 beginning at 6:00pm.