The University of Redlands volleyball team concluded the UCSC Slugfest with split results on Saturday, rallying to defeat in-region foe Lewis & Clark College (OR) during the day's opener, before falling to the Santa Cruz to finish the weekend at 2-2.

The Bulldogs notched a five-set thriller against the L&C Pioneers by scores of 22-25, 25-20, 8-25, 25-22, 15-10.  Senior middle blocker Ashton Martin (Redlands, CA) unleashed the game-winning point on one of her six kills for the match.  Offensively, sophomore middle blocker Kiersten Langerud (Williamsburg, VA) paced the Bulldogs with 15 kills on 25 swings for a hitting percentage of .400.  Freshman outside hitter Emma Böttger (Orange, CA) continued to impress by knocking down 11 kills of her own.  Junior setter Ellie McLeod (Redlands, CA) served as the primary facilitator by distributing 35 assists in the win. 

Defensively, sophomore defensive specialist Abby Hickman (Phoenix, AZ) led the Maroon and Gray with 17 digs, while Böttger chipped in 14.  The Bulldogs were fierce at the net by combining efforts for 10 blocks, highlighted by 4.5 between Martin and senior right-side hitter Kimberly Nevarez (Rancho Cucamonga, CA).

During the team's final match of the tournament, Redlands came up short in three tight sets, 23-25, 23-25, 18-25, to lose to the Banana Slugs. Böttger and Langerud paced the Bulldog offense with eight kills apiece, while senior Lauren Ellingwood (Kirkland, WA) dished out 24 assists.  Böttger and Hickman led the defense with 14 and 11 digs, respectively.

A formal announcement of the All-Tournament is forthcoming.

Redlands (2-2) returns to Southern California for a non-conference match against La Sierra University on Wednesday, September 9, at 7:30 p.m. in Riverside.