WHITTIER, Calif. – In a battle for first place in the SCIAC standings, the undefeated Whittier Poets (6-0) hosted the equally unbeaten Cal Lutheran Regals (6-0). In the highly anticipated conference showdown, Whittier delivered a dominant performance, sweeping Cal Lutheran 3-0.
Whittier set the tone early with six unanswered points to open the first set.
Mia D'Amato recorded a kill and a solo block, while reigning SCIAC Offensive Athlete of the Week
Madison McPherson added two kills. However, Cal Lutheran refused to let the opening frame slip away.
With the Poets ahead 10-7,
Morgan Kinser and
Mia Rogers contributed kills and combined for a block. The three-point run extended Whittier's advantage to 13-7.
The Regals rallied from a 15-9 deficit with six consecutive points to even the score at 15-15. Whittier responded with a pair of points before kills from D'Amato and McPherson helped restore a 20-16 cushion.
A kill from Malena Thé, followed by a McPherson kill and service ace, brought the Poets to set point at 24-20. Just when the opening frame appeared to be over, Cal Lutheran stormed back with four straight points to tie the contest at 24 apiece.
Whittier held strong in the closing moments. An attack error by the Regals put the Poets ahead 25-24 before
Lola Padilla and Kinser combined for a block to secure the 26-24 victory.
With a 1-0 match lead, Whittier once again jumped ahead 3-0 to begin the second set. McPherson and Thé recorded kills during the opening run before Cal Lutheran eventually tied the score at 6-6. Padilla answered with a kill to put the Poets back in front, 7-6.
D'Amato took over offensively, delivering two kills during a five-point stretch that increased the margin to 12-6. Rogers also contributed a kill during the surge.
Cal Lutheran continued to battle, trimming the deficit to 17-15. Another kill from Padilla later helped Whittier maintain its edge at 19-16.
With the Poets leading 22-20, D'Amato and McPherson teamed up for a block before McPherson added another kill to bring Whittier to set point.
After the Regals scored once more, Kinser delivered the finishing kill off an assist from
Hailey Church to give Whittier a 25-21 victory and a commanding 2-0 match advantage.
The Poets carried their momentum into the third set, leaving Cal Lutheran little room for a comeback. D'Amato and
Jeslyn Crockett each registered a kill to help establish an early 4-0 lead.
The Regals narrowed the gap to 5-4, but Church responded with a kill before D'Amato followed with an ace. The sequence pushed Whittier's advantage to 8-4.
With the Poets ahead 13-10, Church recorded back-to-back service aces to stretch the margin to five. D'Amato then contributed two more kills as Whittier pulled away, 18-11.
Thé continued the offensive production, adding two kills during a three-point stretch that put the set out of reach at 21-13.
Whittier remained in control down the stretch, closing out the final frame 25-14 to complete the sweep.
D'Amato led the attack with 10 kills and a .450 hitting percentage, while Thé, Kinser and McPherson finished with six kills apiece. Defensively, Thé and
Alyssa Gonzalez each collected 17 digs, while Kinser and D'Amato combined for six blocks.
With the victory, Whittier remains atop the SCIAC standings. The Poets return to action Friday, Oct. 16, when they host William Paterson University in a nonconference matchup at 7 p.m. Catch all the action on
FloCollege.
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