CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Whittier College women's volleyball team packed plenty into its opening weekend of the 2026 season.
The Poets went 3-1 across four matches at the Pacific Coast Classic, earning wins over Westminster College, Gordon College, and Lasell University while opening their new campaign with a strong two-day showing.
Whittier began the tournament Friday afternoon against Westminster and had to respond after dropping the opening set 25-17.
The Poets did exactly that.
Whittier answered with three straight set wins, taking the second 25-18, the third 25-20 and the fourth 25-16 to secure a 3-1 season-opening victory.
Malena The led the attack with 11 kills and 16 digs, while
Mia D'Amato added nine kills.
Jeslyn Crockett also made an impact from the service line with four aces as the Poets settled into the weekend.
Whittier then made the trip to La Verne for its second match of the day and turned in its first sweep of the season against Gordon.
The Poets won 25-22, 25-21, and 25-14, with
Lola Padilla leading the way offensively. Padilla finished with 14 kills on a .333 hitting percentage, while The added 12 more.
Nicole McManus was also efficient in the win, putting down eight kills on 12 swings, and Whittier closed Friday with a perfect 2-0 record.
The Poets returned to Claremont on Saturday morning and suffered their first loss of the season in a competitive four-set match against North Central College.
Whittier dropped the first two sets before answering with a 25-22 win in the third. The Poets stayed close in the fourth but ultimately fell 25-22 to move to 2-1 on the weekend.
The responded in the tournament finale with their longest match of the event.
Whittier and Lasell traded tight sets throughout a five-set battle, with the Poets winning the first 31-29 and the third 26-24 before the match went to a deciding fifth.
Whittier took control when it mattered most, winning the fifth set 15-9 to close the tournament with a 3-2 victory.
The delivered her biggest performance of the weekend in the finale, setting a new career high with 19 kills while adding 13 digs. D'Amato finished with 11 kills, and
Morgan Kinser added nine while hitting .444.
The win gave Whittier a 3-1 start to the 2026 season and sent the Poets home with victories in three of their first four matches.
Whittier now returns to Dave Jacobs Court for its home-opening weekend, hosting the 2026 Whittier College Volleyball Invitational on Friday, September 11 and Saturday, September 12.
The Poets open the event Friday at 11:15 a.m. against Pacific Lutheran University, which is receiving votes nationally.
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