REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands women's volleyball team (3-4, 0-2) fell to the California Institute of Technology (CIT) on Friday evening inside Currier Gym as they lost in straight sets.
The Bulldogs did not start well in the first set as they conceded seven of the first eight points and the lone point won was off a Beaver attacking error.
Redlands, though, called a timeout and over the next 16 points the Bulldogs won 10 of 16 and got within two, 13-11. During that stretch
Paige Sugg had two kills while
Avery Aminoff,
Kiki Stradford, and
Lilia Donaldson all had one kill with
Ella Goettsche assisting on three kills and
Kaegen Wherry recording two.
CIT would steady the ship with a timeout which allowed them to finish the first set on a 12-7 run as they took the set 25-17.
The second set saw the Bulldogs come out strong with four of the first six points thanks to kills from Stradford and Aminoff and a kill for Goettsche.
Redlands' rhythm was thrown off after they thought they had a 3-1 lead but were called for being out of rotation and they lost the point and it was given to CIT, as was the service.
The set would remain tight as the two teams were tied at four, five, six, and seven. The Beavers would start to take control after it was tied at seven as they won six-straight to take a 13-7 lead.
Donaldson, Aminoff, Wherry, and
Makaila Brooks all had kills as they responded to CIT's run with an 8-3 run of their own as they got within one, 16-15.
The strong run of play would not last as the Beavers ended the set by winning nine of the final 12 points and took the set 25-18.
The third and final set was a mixed bag as they won the first three points thanks to two Beaver errors and a service ace from Goettsche, but fell behind by six, 13-7, through the middle of the set. Another 3-0 stretch got them back into the set as they trailed by only three, 13-10, but allowed a 12-5 run to end the set.
The Bulldogs offense got more efficient as the match went on, improving from .053 hitting percentage in the first to a .118 in the second and then a .318 in the third. The problem, though, was they did not get enough opportunities as they had 38 and 34 total attacks in the first two sets but only 22 in the third. The defense, however, did not improve, as CIT hit .538 in the third after .225 and .194 percentages to start.
The Bulldogs will not be able to worry long about this match long as they have to play at Chapman University tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. in Orange.
