The University of Redlands volleyball team opened Homecoming weekend with a solid three-set sweep of the Caltech Beavers, winning by scores of 25-8, 25-10, 25-15 on Friday night in Currier Gym.  While utilizing 17 of 18 players, the Bulldogs rattled off their best hitting percentage of the season at .378 en route to a total-team effort that returned the squad to the win column for the first time in nine outings.

During the victory, the Maroon and Gray put together multiple scoring bursts to secure sizeable leads in each of the sets.  Redlands garnered a 13-2 advantage in the opening stanza, with junior middle blocker Ashton Martin (Redlands, CA) headlining the Bulldogs' offense with three kills during this stretch.  She finished the night with eight kills on 11 swings for a hitting percentage of .636 in only two sets of action.

The second frame saw the Maroon and Gray break a five-all tie with five consecutive points.  Freshman defensive specialist Madison Brazeel (Yuma, AZ) facilitated this run for the Bulldogs with her solid serving and back-row play.

Late in the third set, Redlands stretched its 15-12 lead to a 25-15 victory with an effective offense that included sophomore outside hitter Addison Fonseca (Santa Cruz, CA), freshman middle blocker Kailee McCoy (Chandler, AZ), sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Dustin (San Marino, CA), and junior middle blocker Kimberly Nevarez (Rancho Cucamonga, CA).  McCoy headed up this four-headed attack with her impressive .636 showing on seven kills in two sets played.

Sophomore setter Ellie McLeod (Redlands, CA) dished out 30 of the team's 34 assists in the win.

Overall, the Bulldogs served well in the match, knocking down 14 aces.  Martin led all contributors with three.

Redlands (2-14, 2-8 SCIAC) heads to the University of La Verne on Saturday for a 6 p.m. match against the Leopards.