Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
Article by: Abby Salmon (Sports Information Intern)
LA VERNE, Calif. – The Whittier College Volleyball team snapped their six-game losing skid Saturday as they spoiled the University of La Verne's Homecoming pulling out a tough five-setter 25-20, 21-25, 25-14, 18-25, 15-11.
It marks the second straight year the Purple & Gold have beaten La Verne in five-sets on the road as Whittier improves to 9-13, 4-7 SCIAC. They currently sit in a tie for 5th within the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Standings.
The Poets started off the first set slowly going down 5-0, but they were able to come back later on to gain the lead back 10-9 due to a service run from Marissa Montoya (Glendora, Calif.) during which Kathea Schamblin (Bakersfield, Calif.) had back to back kills. Valerie van der Linden (Auburn, Calif.) then helped build the lead as she got the team two consecutive blocks, one of them assisted by Aubrey Caires (Gardnerville, NV). It was a one-point margin at one point at 19-18 but Whittier was able to grab five of the next seven points capped off with a pair of kills from Schamblin and Caires.
The Leopards maintained control throughout the second set, jumping out in front 11-5 before moving the deficit to 17-9. WC made a push midway through with a 5-1 run with Makayla Wright (Covina, Calif.) serving up an ace and van der linden adding a kill that pulled them within four. ULV stretched the lead back to eight soon after but again the Poets mounted a comeback this time with six in a row that made it a two point frame. After a service error, Haley Petruescu (La Mirada, Calif.) put together five in a row, which included kills from Caires and Katelyn Popoff (Hacienda Heights, Calif.). But the threat would end there as the Leos would get the final two points to deadlock the match at 1-1.
In the third Whittier came out strong offensively as Popoff and Franki Piloto (Ontario, Calif.) combined for six kills helping give WC a 15-11 advantage. Petruescu got on a four point service run to increase the lead to 19-11 and the Poets didn't look back as Abby Salmon (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) ended the period with four service points sparked by a pair of kills from Caires.
The fourth set was all back and forth between the two teams until it was tied at 15-15. La Verne then went on a 4-0 run that gave them a 19-15 advantage and that lead would hold, despite Popoff adding two kills down the stretch. ULV then deadlocked the match at 2-2.
In the deciding fifth set, Whittier got to the halfway point first with the help of two kills from Piloto and strikes from Wright and van der Linden. The Purple & Gold stretched the lead to 10-7 with kills from Popoff and Caires and then capitalized on a pair of attacking errors by the Leos to move the score to 12-8. ULV got three points down the stretch but the offensive attack from Whittier was too much as Alaina Rhee (Kent, WA) and Schamblin would secure the road win with three strikes.
Popoff finished with 19 kills along with 12 digs finishing with a .271 hitting percentage. Piloto and Schamblin each added 11 strikes with Schamblin also totaling three blocks and Caires added an eight kill effort with three block assists. Up front Wright and Petruescu both had double double afternoons with Wright going 26 assists and 10 digs, while Petruescu put up 24 assists, two kills, and 14 pick-ups.
Marissa Montoya (Glendora, Calif.) also played big in the backrow adding a pair of assists, a service ace and 24 digs, and Katie Engle (Whittier, Calif.) chipped in with 11 digs.
Whittier looks to build on this win as they return home tomorrow, Tuesday, October 22 to take on Cal Lutheran University beginning at 7:00pm.
