WHITTIER, Calif. – Whittier took the first two sets with extended scoring runs and used back-to-back blocks to take control late in the third, sweeping Redlands 25-19, 25-12, 25-22 on Tuesday night. The Poets extended their program win record to 22 games and moved to 22-6 overall and 10-2 in SCIAC play.
Neither team led by more than two points before the opening set reached its seventh tie at 9-9. Malena Thé broke the deadlock with a kill, then teamed with Mia D'Amato for a block before adding another score to cap a five-point run. After Redlands got a point back, D'Amato put away consecutive balls and Thé followed with another kill as Whittier built an 18-10 lead.
The Bulldogs cut the margin to five at 22-17, but Madison McPherson delivered kills on two of Whittier's next three points. Thé converted set point on a McPherson assist to close out a frame in which the Poets recorded 18 kills and hit .381.
Hailey Church helped Whittier take control of the second set from the service line. With the Poets ahead 4-3, Church served an ace and set up kills for Morgan Kinser and Lola Padilla during a six-point run that made it 10-3. Redlands got back within six at 13-7, but Whittier answered with another six straight points, including kills from Thé, McPherson and D'Amato.
Four kills were all the Poets allowed Redlands to manage, as well as forcing nine attack errors. Kinser put away the point that gave Whittier set point, then joined McPherson for the block that finished it at 25-12.
Redlands put up a fight in the third, tying the score at 12-12 before D'Amato and Mia Rogers combined for three kills and a block on four consecutive points. The Bulldogs closed that gap and later scored three straight to draw even again at 20-20.
A Redlands service error put Whittier back in front, and D'Amato teamed with McPherson and then Thé for consecutive blocks. Thé followed with a kill to make it 24-20. The Bulldogs saved two match points before Alyssa Gonzalez set up McPherson for the final kill.
D'Amato led all players with 11 kills on .556 hitting and added four blocks. Rogers and McPherson had eight kills apiece, while Kinser put away six on 10 swings and hit .500. McPherson handed out 21 assists, Church added 13, and Thé and Gonzalez paced the back row with 17 and 12 digs, respectively.
Whittier will close out the regular season at Occidental on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 4 p.m. in Los Angeles before turning its attention to the SCIAC Tournament. Catch all the action on FloCollege.
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