CLAREMONT, Calif. (Sept. 3, 2022) – The Whittier College volleyball team, led by junior setter Della Trimble (Saratoga, Calif. / West Valley College), broke into the win column for the first time this season at the SCIAC-hosted Pacific Coast Classic on Friday afternoon.

Whittier rebounded from a defeat earlier in the day at the hands of George Fox University. However, the team did show an ability to start fast if they have to and won the first set of the unsuccessful effort 25-18. When the Poets took on Augustana College later in the day, they put their starting and finishing ability on full display, vanquishing the Vikings in straight sets. Whittier led wire-to-wire in the opening frame, creating its largest single-set margin of victory on the day. However, the third set had its own set of highs, one of which involved 14 of the Poets' 25 points going for kills, a season-high through three matches.

Trimble repeatedly found ways to set her teammates up for success and finished with 13 assists. Trimble also chipped in defensively with nine digs, marking the second time in three contests she has been one dig shy of a double-double. Senior Katelyn Popoff (Hacienda Heights, Calif. / Sonora) made the most of her opportunities on the attack, leading Whittier with nine kills. Senior Franki Piloto (Ontario, Calif. / Pomona Catholic) and sophomore Amber Johnson (Walnut, Calif. / Walnut), meanwhile added five kills each. The Purple & Gold also received some significant support on its serve. Senior libero Madisen Diaz (Hacienda Heights, Calif. / Bishop Amat) dominated in this area, acing the Vikings on five different occasions while also leading her side with 12 digs.

Head Coach Chris Duarte-McDermott and the Poets will continue at the Pacific Coast Classic on Saturday afternoon. They will first test themselves against nationally-ranked No. 11 Transylvania University at 2 p.m. before going up against the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh at 5:30 p.m.