Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
REDLANDS, Calif. – The Whittier College Volleyball team looked to get back on track Tuesday night but couldn't pull off the road victory falling in a five-setter to the University of Redlands 25-19, 22-25, 25-22, 25-27, 15-10.
The Purple & Gold see their losing skid move to five in a row as they drop to 8-12, 3-6 SCIAC, while Redlands improves to 6-13, 3-6 SCIAC.
Whittier was able to gain some momentum in the opening frame with Kathea Schamblin (Bakersfield, Calif.) leading the charge with three in their first eleven points. Neither team was able to pull ahead though until Redlands was able to gain a six point advantage during a serving run that put them up at 21-16. Katelyn Popoff (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) helped Whittier sideout with a kill but Redlands was able to get the serve right back. With the Bulldogs at game point, Haley Petruescu (La Mirada, Calif.) went back to serve and gained an ace in efforts to come back. Unfortunately, Redlands was able to close out set one 25-19 with a kill from Natalie Starlin.
Schamblin and Popoff were able to help the Poets get on top 12-8 with five kills combined. The rest of the front row was also able to contribute to the 20-15 lead as Alaina Rhee (Kent, WA) and Jazmyn Sudbrook-Johnson (Fremont, Calif.) each had kills of their own. Redlands made a push winning six of the next seven points to get within two at 23-21 but couldn't complete the comeback as Popoff and Valerie van der Linden (Auburn, Calif.) would each get a pair of strikes that leveled the match.
Whittier got off to a strong start in the third set with Schamblin earning back to back kills and Rhee and Franki Piloto (Ontario, Calif.) combining on a block. Van der Linden put together a nice serving run of three in a row that moved the score to 11-8, but that lead wouldn't hold as UR would battle back with an 8-2 run that swung the momentum putting them on top 18-16. A service error by the Bulldogs and a kill by Rhee tied things up at 18-18 and then an ace by Makayla Wright (Covina, Calif.) followed by a bad set from UR put WC on top 21-20. But again Redlands battled this time winning five of the next six points, which included the final four of the frame that gave them the 25-22 win and a 2-1 advantage.
The third set went down to the wire. Redlands jumped ahead 10-7 and then 15-9. Trailing 20-17 the Purple & Gold rallied to win five of the next six capitalizing on three attacking errors, while getting a kill from Rhee that put them on top 22-21. After that the set became tied on three different occasions. UR saved two set points but couldn't stop the third as a kill from Popoff and a bad set from Angelina Hughes would force a fifth and decisive frame.
UR got out on top quickly 11-5 in the 5th frame and that proved the difference despite a late 5-1 run that got WC within two at 12-10. But the Bulldogs were able to weather the storm as they would get the final three points to clinch the victory all coming on kills.
Schamblin led the offense with a huge double double of 20 kills and 23 digs. She also added three blocks. Popoff added 15 kills with seven pick-ups in the backrow and Sudbrook-Johnson chipped in with five strikes up front. Wright led the point finishing with 27 assists and 19 digs and Petruescu added 14 assists two aces and 11 digs. Marissa Montoya (Glendora, Calif.) despite only having one kill also had 15 digs and Katie Engle (Whittier, Calif.) led the defense with 25 digs and five aces.
Whittier gets back into action this Friday, October 18 when they host Claremont-M-S beginning at 7:00pm.
