Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

ORANGE, Calif. – For the first time in the program's history, the Whittier College volleyball team stunned the Panthers of Chapman University completing the upset in five sets 25-14, 25-18, 24-26, 22-25, 15-12 at the Hutton Sports Center.

With the win, the Poets earn back to back Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) wins after completing a five set thriller over Redlands Friday evening, while improving to 4-7, 3-2 SCIAC.  

The Purple & Gold acted as spoilers for outside hitter Val Geiger who reached the 1,000 kill milestone Saturday evening. 

She recorded a match and season high 21 kills giving her exactly 1,000 kills in her illustrious career.  The two-time All-American becomes just the sixth player in Chapman history to eclipse the 1,000 kill plateau.

The Poets jumped out in front quickly taking the first two sets putting the Panthers in an early hole, which they were unable to recover from.  Despite hitting .111 in the third set, the Poets still managed to hold onto a 19-17 lead and had a match point at 24-23 but couldn't secure it as Chapman would remain alive winning three straight points to grab the 26-24 set.

In the fourth the Poets fell behind early 4-1 and then 16-11 but they managed to pull even 22-22 following six straight points capped off with back to back kills from Casie Lowden (Glendora, Calif.) and Alexis Mills (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.).  But a service error and kills by Geiger and Nicole Moy would give Chapman the set keeping their hopes alive.

In the fifth the Poets fell behind quickly 4-1 but rallied to win the next seven points to go in front 8-4, a lead they would not relinquish despite CU threatening pulling within one at 13-12.  With the upset in their sights Lowden and Mills would wrap it up with back to back kills that secured the victory.   

Lowden finished the evening with 19 kills and 15 digs, while Torrey Mitsunaga (Culver City, Calif.) had 39 assists and 20 digs. 

Rebecca Slattery (Los Altos, Calif.) and Haley Whyte (Mission Viejo, Calif.) had double digit kills finishing with 12 each, but the big stat for the match was blocks with the Poets finishing with 20 (2 Solo, 18 Assisted) led by Mills who had a career and season high 7 blocks to lead the front row.         

Whittier returns home to the Graham Athletic Center this Tuesday, September 30 when they host Caltech beginning at 7:30pm.