Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. (Oct. 22, 2021) – The Whittier College volleyball team's SCIAC Postseason Tournament hopes hit a minor snag on Friday night against California Lutheran University.

The Poets played their best volleyball in the third set when they began to find the form that allowed them to win four straight games in mid-October. Thanks to a pair of kills from senior outside hitter Franki Piloto, the Poets found themselves up 8-3 to open the frame with the wind at their backs. However, the opportunistic Regals soon worked their way back into contention and battled with the Poets until the end very end of the frame when they were able to flip the script and come out on the winning. However, Whittier was not ready to capitulate, turning back one match point off a kill from senior Katelyn Popoff (Hacienda Heights, Calif. / Sonora) with sophomore Jordan Duyan-Heard (San Dimas, Calif. / San Dimas) assisting.

Junior Kaitlin Bullock (Rocklin, Calif. / Humboldt State) led the Poets with eight kills while Popoff registered seven. Meanwhile, three separate Poets scored 10 digs or more, with senior libero Julia Trujillo (Chino, Calif. / Univ. of La Verne) leading the way with 18. Popoff, along with junior setter Della Trimble (Saratoga, Calif. / West Valley College) had 11 and 12 digs respectively.

Head Coach Chris Duarte McDermott and the Poets will be back in action tomorrow in Pasadena when they attempt to stave off a Caltech team that has won three of its last five and took a set from conference powerhouse Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges. The game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start time.

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