Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Volleyball team was knocked out of Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Post Season Tournament contention Tuesday night as they fell in a five set thriller to Chapman University 27-29, 19-25, 25-18, 25-23, 17-15 within the Graham Athletic Center.

With the loss the Poets snap a two game winning streak and fall to 9-16, 5-9 SCIAC.

The Purple & Gold held a 2-0 advantage over the Panthers and had two match points in the fifth but couldn't put it away as CU came back to win the final three frames to win 3-2.

Chapman jumped out in front in the first set 13-6 using an 8-1 run.  But that lead wouldn't hold as WC would answer with their own run winning five of the next six to pull within two at 15-13.

Another big run of six straight by the Purple & Gold sparked by kills from Rebecca Slattery (Los Altos, Calif.), Olive Anagu (Culver City, Calif.), and Alaina Rhee (Kent, WA) would give Whittier their first lead at 21-17.  Chapman fought back to pull even at 23-23 and then 24-24 before grabbing their first set point at 26-25, but WC weathered the storm and won four of the final five points, which included two kills from Slattery and Rhee that gave WC a 1-0 lead.

Whittier grabbed the momentum quickly in the second storming out to an 11-3 lead with Slattery, Anagu, and Rhee jump starting everything.  Slattery then took over herself soon after that helped keep the advantage with the Poets.  The Panthers attempted to stay in it with four straight late that got them within four but a kill from Alexis Mills (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and an attacking error from Chapman would give WC a 2-0 lead.

Chapman, with their backs against the ball came out strong in the third going in front 13-8.  They extended that lead to 20-11 following five straight.  The Purple & Gold though battled and rallied with their own 5-0 run that cut the deficit to four at 20-16 but it wouldn't be enough as CU would grab their first set of the match winning the final four points of the frame. 

The fourth set was back and forth until CU grabbed a 13-9 lead.  Slattery and Rhee worked together to pull the Poets even at 15-15 and Camryn Purdom (Moreno Valley, Calif.) and Slattery went back to back with kills and a service ace that gave WC an 18-17 advantage.

But Chapman again would rally winning four of the next five and six of the next nine that put them back in front 23-21.  Freshman Aubrey Caires (Garnderville, NV) stopped the run with a kill that got Whittier within one at 23-22 but a kill from Kylie Cook and Lauren Friend would secure the set for Chapman deadlocking the match at 2-2.

In the fifth, Whittier had opportunities despite trailing 5-2 early.  They put together a 6-1 run that put them on top 8-6.  CU came back with three that gave the lead right back to the Panthers.  Anagu came up with a kill and after two ball handling errors by CU, Whittier held an 11-9 lead.

A service error by Dominique Almuena (La Mirada, Calif.) led to back to back kills from Chapman that turned the momentum right back but it didn't hold as Casie Lowden (Glendora, Calif.) and Purdom came up with three big kills that gave Whittier two match-points. Leading 14-12, the Poets had chances, but couldn't convert as CU would win five of the next six points that gave them the road victory. 

Slattery finished with 22 kills and two block assists.  Anagu totaled 13 kills and had seven block assists and Lowden chipped in with seven kills and 19 digs.  Purdom led in the assists category with 33, while also finishing with 17 digs.  Clarissa Standafer (Alta Loma, Calif.) totaled 23 digs, while Jasmine Tong (Fullerton, Calif.) totaled 11 assists and six digs.     

Whittier remains at home this Friday, October 28 as they host Claremont-M-S beginning at 7:00pm.