Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Whittier College Volleyball team once again found themselves matched up against one of the top teams in the country Friday evening as they dropped in straight sets to No. 9 Claremont-M-S 25-16, 25-9, 25-19.

This marks the third straight loss for the Purple & Gold, all coming by way of straight sets against University of La Verne (Received Votes), No. 7 Cal Lutheran, and now No. 9 Claremont-M-S.

The Poets were held to a season low .000 hitting percentage being forced into as many errors as kills. 

CMS took an early lead in the first set and it steadily grew throughout the game.  The Athena's continued in the second going in front 6-1 led by Nicole Kerkhof's strong serving performance and the Poets were unable to string together back to back points until CMS already had a 20-6 lead. 

Whittier made the third set more exciting when they took an early lead 9-4 with two kills from Rebecca Slattery (Los Altos, Calif.) and two kills and an ace by Haley Whyte (Mission Viejo, Calif.) but the Athena's would rally going on two mini-runs that put them in front 17-11 before closing the door on the third set 25-19.

Olive Anagu (Culver City, Calif.) led the Poets attack with six kills on 12 attempts, Jasmine Tong (Fulleton, Calif.) finished with a team high nine assists, and Jennifer Estrada (Pasadena, Calif.) led the back row with 12 digs.        

Whittier looks to get back into the win column as they host Occidental College tonight, September 26 beginning at 6:00pm.