THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (Oct. 8, 2022)- After sweeping Redlands Friday night, the Whittier women fell in straight sets to the Cal Lutheran Regals Saturday on the road. 

The Poets began the match with two blocks and a kill to take a 3-0 lead. The Regals, however, fought back and took a 7-4 advantage to force a Whittier timeout. Whittier soon trailed 17-9. The Poets' swings were constantly getting blocked and Cal Lu had numerous service aces to ultimately give the Regals a 25-14 victory. 

Whittier jumped out of the gate to a commanding 10-4 lead in the second set, forcing the first Regals timeout. Cal Lutheran responded and soon tied the score at 13. The Poets would then endure a long drought filled with miscues and ultimately dropped the second set, 25-19. 

Della Trimble gave the Poets a quick 2-0 lead in the third with two service aces. The teams traded points early in the set and the game was tied at 8, before the Regals went on another run, scoring eight unanswered points and taking a 16-8 lead. The Regals' serves were too much for the Poets to handle, as Whittier struggled to control them. Cal Lu would take the set and match with a 25-14 set victory. 

A bright spot for the Poets tonight was Kaitlin Bullock, who saw her first action of the season. After not taking the court early in the season due to injury, the senior made her much-anticipated debut and came out swinging. The outside hitter finished with six kills and a .357 hitting percentage. 

Whittier now sits at 4-4 in conference play. Its next game will come Tuesday Oct. 11 on the road at 7 p.m. against Pomona-Pitzer. The last time these teams matched up, the Sagehens won in a competitive five-setter.

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

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