CLAREMONT, Calif. (Oct 25, 2022)- The Whittier women faced the No. 1-ranked team in Division III, the CMS Athenas, on the road Tuesday and fell in straight sets.

The first set began with Whittier playing well. The Poets remained in the game, keeping the score a close 10-8 CMS lead. The Athenas would then go on a few big runs to take the set, 25-11. 

Whittier would play CMS very close throughout much of the second as well. It never trailed by more than three throughout the first half of the set. With the score 15-12, CMS,  the Athenas began to open a large lead. The Poets played this set much better, but ran out of gas toward the end and dropped it, 25-16. 

Down 2 sets to 0, the Poets got off to another strong start, with the score tied, 7-7. The score was 16-11, CMS, when the Poets took their first timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Whittier was unable to recover and lost 25-13. 

The Poets took a swing at the No. 1-ranked team in Division III, but unfortunately, it did not land. They would lose in three sets to the Athenas. Analise Kusleika led the team in points with 5.5 points, recording two kills and five block assists. 

The women's final home game, Senior Night, will be this Friday Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. against the Chapman Panthers.

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

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