Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Volleyball team nearly pulled off another huge upset this past Saturday as they pushed No. 23 Cal Lutheran University to five sets inside of the Graham Athletic Center.
It was a packed house to watch the Poets and Regals go at it with Whittier forcing CLU into a 2-1 hole but Cal Lutheran managed to come back to take the fourth and fifth sets to escape the GAC with the tough road victory.
The Purple & Gold took an early lead in the first set but couldn't hold it as CLU came back to go in front at 17-15. The Poets were able to stay within striking distance at 21-18 but the attacking duo of Amy McKee and Steph Rolfson were able to put CLU in front.
The Poets though continued to battle though through the next two sets winning 25-14, 25-21. Whittier hit a season high .394 in the second set and .289 in the third, while holding Cal Lutheran to under .100 in both frames.
Whittier got off to hot start in the second rolling to the 14-1 lead behind the serving of Clarissa Standafer (Alta Loma, Calif.) and Camryn Purdom (Moreno Valley, Calif.). WC held this lead throughout and would cruise to the equalizing set. They carried the momentum into the third using a 4-1 run midway through to go on top 14-11. A kill from Jazmyn Sudbrook-Johnson (Fremont, Calif.) and a ball handling error by CLU soon after would keep the margin at four until the Regals would rally with four straight that put them on top at 19-18.
The Poets though didn't back down however as they added their own spurt of four straight sparked by a pair of kills from Alaina Rhee (Kent, WA). This would WC back the momentum at 22-19, which they would hold as Rhee and Aubrey Caires (Garnderville, NV) would put in the final blow with three kills that gave the Poets a 2-1 advantage.
The fourth went back and forth but the Poets were able to take a late lead at 18-15 but an ensuing 6-0 run by CLU would turn the momentum right back. Kills by Makenzie Thieme (Corona, Calif.) and Rhee would pull WC within one at 21-20 and Thieme would answer soon after that tied the game up at 23-23 but that's as close as they would get as an ace and kill by Rolfson and Hope Stewart would force the match into a decisive fifth set.
The Poets trailed in the 5th and found themselves in a hole at 9-5 and again at 11-7. Kills from Thieme and Sudbrook-Johnson would get the Purple & Gold within three but again the comeback couldn't be completed as a ball handling error by the Poets and a kill from Amanda Roberts would secure the win for the Regals.
Ashley Whittall (Norwalk, Calif.) led the Poet offense with a career high 19 kills. Rhee put together an impressive performance as well with 15 with three block assists, and Alexis Mills (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) would record a double digit effort with 10 kills in a supporting role.
Sudbrook-Johnson and Thieme each added eight kills apiece, with Standafer finishing with 22 digs and seven assists. Purdom posted a match and career high 40 assists with 15 digs and Hannah Joyce (Newport Beach, Calif.) would chip in with 16 assists and eight digs.
Whittier resumes play this evening as they travel to take on the Uni. of Redlands beginning at 7:00pm.
