Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

ORANGE, Calif. – Chapman University was too much for the Whittier College Volleyball team on the road Saturday as they fell in straight sets 25-20, 25-23, 25-19.

After winning back-to-back games, the Purple & Gold now drop to 10-14, 5-8 SCIAC.  They still though have a chance to earn a berth into the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Post Season Tournament. 

Whittier led 7-5 early in the first set with a trio of kills coming from Katelyn Popoff (Hacienda Heights, Calif.), Kathea Schamblin (Bakersfield, Calif.), and Abby Salmon (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.).  After losing the lead WC was able to get it back with a 5-1 run led by a strong serving run by Marissa Montoya (Glendora, Calif.).  But again CU was able to bounce back to rattle off 11 of the next 13 points to go in front 20-14.  Franki Piloto (Ontario, Calif.) and Aubrey Caires (Gardnerville, NV) were each able to collect tallies soon after to cut the deficit to four and Popoff and Salmon would tack on two late, but it wouldn't be enough as Chapman would take the first.

The second set was tight throughout with CU holding a slight lead.  Whittier got within one at 12-11 and then got within two at 16-14 following back-to-back kills from Schamblin and Valerie van der Linden (Auburn, Calif.).  But the Panthers would rally with five unanswered that open the set up.  Piloto and Salmon tried to spark a run with two kills soon after that led to a 6-2 run for the Purple & Gold cutting the deficit to three.  Then trailing 24-20, the Poets made one final push with Salmon and Caires connecting along with Montoya adding an ace that made it a one-point frame.  But after a CU timeout Jessi Lumsden would secure the frame with a kill putting WC in a hole. 

It was all Chapman in the third set jumping out in front 10-2 and they didn't look back.  Whittier got within three at 16-13 following a 4-0 run and then used a ball handling error and a kill from Schamblin to get within two at 19-17 but that would be as close as they would get as CU would close out the sweep with three straight.

Schamblin finished the match with a double double of 10 kills and 12 digs.  Salmon and Piloto each added six kills and Caires with four, while hitting .333.  Makayla Wright (Covina, Calif.) finished with 16 assists and eight pick-ups and Haley Petruescu (La Mirada, Calif.) added 10 assists.  Katie Engle (Whittier, Calif.) in the backrow added 10 digs with two assists and two service aces and Montoya finished with eight digs.                  

Whittier returns to competition this Tuesday, October 29 when they host Caltech beginning at 7:00pm.