Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

Article by: Abby Salmon (Sports Information Intern)

PASADENA, Calif. – The Whittier College Volleyball team dropped a tough four-set decision Friday night to Caltech on the road as they opened up Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play.

After falling behind 2-0, the Purple & Gold managed to cut the deficit in half taking the third frame but couldn't complete the comeback as they fell 24-26, 23-25, 25-10, 21-25.  They drop to 5-7, 0-1 SCIAC, while Caltech improves to 5-4, 1-0 SCIAC.

Both teams fought for control in the opening stages of the first set but it was Caltech who pushed ahead with an eight-point run to put them up 16-8.  Whittier slowly started to catch back up, with Alaina Rhee (Kent, WA) notching four kills out of Whittier's next eight points.  Hana Abdullah (Walnut, Calif.) then tied things up at 22 with a pair of kills and later gave the Purple & Gold a set point.  But WC couldn't clinch it as CalTech would pick up the next three points to close it out 26-24.

Caltech carried the momentum into the second set, leaving the Poets behind 7-1. Back to back kills in the middle of the set from Katelyn Popoff (Hacienda Heights, Calif.), both fed by Makayla Wright (Covina, Calif.), brought Whittier within one and a kill from Valerie van der Linden (Auburn, Calif.) gave the team the lead at 16-15. The set remained close until the very end, but again it was Caltech who came out on top putting the Poets in a hole.   

With their backs against the wall Whittier came out with a bang in the third as Popoff got four kills in a row to start them off with a 5-0 lead. The Poets kept pushing ahead as Katie Engle (Whittier, Calif.) came back to serve in the middle of the set for another five point run, putting WC ahead by 12. The Beavers scrambled to come back but the Purple & Gold wouldn't allow it, closing out the set 25-10 with a kill from Marissa Montoya (Glendora, Calif.).

The opening points of set four started off with kills from Abby Salmon (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Montoya, and Rhee but neither team was able to pull ahead.   It was back and forth after that with Whittier grabbing leads at 17-16, 18-17, and 19-18.  But none of those advantages would stick as CIT would rattle off seven of the next nine points to clinch the victory 25-21. 

Popoff led the Poets with 19 kills and 15 digs.  Rhee added double digits with 11 kills, while hitting .350 and also added five digs and two blocks.  Wright led the offense with 30 assists, a service ace and six digs.  Engle posted 18 pick-ups in the backrow and Madisen Diaz (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) chipped in with 12 digs. 

Whittier returns to the court tonight, Saturday, September 21 looking to bounce back.  They host Pomona-Pitzer beginning at 6:00pm.