Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Volleyball team ran into a tough test with the Regals of Cal Lutheran University Tuesday night, ranked No. 7 in the AVCA Division III National Polls and despite playing two tight sets, the Purple & Gold were unable to pull off the upset at home as they fell 25-17, 25-15, 25-15.

This marks the Poets second straight conference loss as they fall to 7-4, 0-2 SCIAC, while Cal Lutheran improves to 12-2, 2-0 SCIAC.

Whittier jumped out of the gates hot taking a 4-1 lead thanks to kills from Casie Lowden (Glendora, Calif.) and Rebecca Slattery (Los Altos, Calif.) and an ace from Torrey Mitsunaga (Culver City, Calif.).

But Michelle Lawrence would put CLU back on track serving nine straight points that put the Regals in front 13-6, a lead they wouldn't relinquish as they would hold off two mini Poet runs late to take the first set 25-17.

In the second, it was a back and forth battle until Whittier would find some separation going in front by three 12-9, but again the serving by the Regals would come up big, this time from Allie Eason who would serve 10 straight points, that put CLU in front 20-12, before they went on to win the second 25-15.

In the third, it was all CLU as they would go in front 8-2 and then 12-5 early that forced the Purple & Gold to play catch-up.  They would get within eight midway through the frame and then within seven in the latter stages but the deficit became too much to overcome with the Regals using a 4-1 run to close out the set. 

Slattery and Lowden both finished with seven kills for the evening.  Mitsunaga totaled eight assists, Lowden had eight digs, and Alexis Mills (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and Slattery each had four block assists.

Whittier looks to bounce back this Friday, September 25 as they travel to Claremont-M-S to take on the Athena's beginning at 7:30pm.