WHITTIER, Calif. (Sept. 13, 2024) – The Whittier College women's volleyball team gave a great account of itself in its first of three weekend games in Massachusetts against No. 10 MIT. In addition to being the 10th-ranked team in Division III, MIT is also the top-ranked team in Region II.
Freshman outside hitter
Malena Thé (Chino Hills, Calif. / Chino Hills / Westmont College) found herself at the center of the Poets' offensive effort with 14 kills. The Poets' rookie on the outside featured in all four sets, including a first set in which the Poets registered 13 kills as a team and beat the Beavers, 25-19. As both teams jockeyed for position throughout the majority of the set, the Poets turned on the jets for the final seven points on the serve of senior libero
Nadine Oronoz (Whittier, Calif. / Southland Christian / Rio Hondo College). Oronoz served out the set with a seven-point run that included an ace, two kills courtesy of Thé, and two kills courtesy of senior middle blocker
Analise Kusleika (Upland, Calif. / Claremont). Kusleika continued her excellent run of form this season with a 4:1 kill-error ratio and three assisted blocks. Her eight kills were good for second on the team after Thé.
MIT found its top-10 form from the second set on. However, managed to assert themselves at the net at different points over the four-set match. Senior middle blocker
Xenia Villagomez (Corona, Calif. / Santiago) had a great deal to do with it, factoring into eight of the Poets' nine blocks. Thé had three assisted blocks herself to complete the team performance. Meanwhile, Oronoz led all Poets with 21 digs, and finished the match with four service aces. Senior setter
Morgan Lin (Glendora, Calif. / Glendora) carried the setting load with 23 of her team's 36 assists, and 15 players saw the court against a top-10 team in Division III as Head Coach
Chris Duarte-McDermott shuffled the lineup throughout all four sets.
Duarte-McDermott and the Poets will not have to wait long to see if they can right the ship. They are set for two games in Boston on Saturday, Sept. 14 against Tufts University and Calvin University.
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