Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The Whittier College Volleyball team opened up 2017 Friday during the Colorado College Classic where they edged Berry College in four sets before falling to host Colorado College.

Berry College (W; 25-19, 25-18, 22-25, 25-23)

The Purple & Gold were a new squad on the trip without the likes of All-SCIAC performer Rebecca Slattery and setter Jasmine Tong.  But Whittier came out strong with their five new additions.

They hit .292 in the first set and continued to keep their foot on the gas as they went on to collect a .391 clip in the second, .286 in the third, and .289 in the fourth.

The biggest addition was junior transfer Makenzie Thieme (Corona, Calif.) who recorded 22 kills on 41 attempts to finish with a .341 hitting percentage.  The Vikings had no response for the outside hitter from Mt. SAC as she led WC throughout along with eight digs.  Joining her in double digits was freshman Ashley Whittall (Norwalk, Calif.) who collected 12 kills, hitting .280.  Southpaw Aubrey Caires (Garnderville, NV) was close to earning her first double digit kill night as she added eight herself on just 15 attempts for a .333 clip.

Camryn Purdom (Moreno Valley, Calif.) led the front row running point collecting a career high 30 assists but also added 10 digs as well to finish off the double-double, while Hannah Joyce (Newport Beach, Calif.) tallied 11 herself. 

Clarissa Standafer (Alta Loma, Calif.) once again controlled the backrow as she finished with 13 digs to lead the Poets, while Alexis Mills (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) was big up front with four block assists.            

No. 9 Colorado College (L; 25-14, 25-14, 25-17)

The Poets were overmatched in game two of the Classic as they took on West Region powerhouse No. 9 Colorado College.  It was a tough start as Whittier fell 25-14 in the first set and they couldn't regain their balance as they went on to get swept 25-14, 25-17.

Two of the three sets the Poets were in the negatives for hitting percentage, while hitting .033 in the second.  Leading the attack was Alaina Rhee (Kent, WA) who finished with six kills, while Whittall added four.   

Whittier wraps up their trip tomorrow, Saturday, September 2 as they take on Ithaca (9:00am) and Augustana (1:00pm).