THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Volleyball team (16-10) won their first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Tournament match since 2009 as they beat No. 4 California Lutheran University (CLU) 3-2 (25-16, 20-25, 16-25, 25-23, 15-13) in the first round Tuesday evening.
The Bulldogs dropped the first four points of the match before the Regals committed three errors followed by Lily Kautai (San Mateo, CA) adding an ace to even the score at four.
Now trailing by three, 10-7, Cecily Wagstaff (Portland, OR) had a kill off a Makenna Vanhofwegen (Buckeye, AZ) assist that sparked a 10-2 Bulldog run that put them ahead by five, 17-12. During the run Wagstaff and Lily Houston (Reno, NV) combined on a block and Lauren Culala (Seattle, WA) had an ace.
CLU would close to within three, 20-17, but Houston finished off the set with a pair of kills putting Redlands up 1-0.
After another slow start to begin the second, Hannah Hajnal (El Cerrito, CA) setup Avery Aminoff (Alexandria, VA) in the first of three unanswered to close the gap to one, 6-5.
Despite that response, the Regals would extend their lead to seven, 21-14. Kautai then had two kills coupled with three CLU errors and a Hajnal ace giving themselves a chance trailing by three, 23-20. The late surge would fall short after the Regals ended the set with a pair of kills.
In the opening 14 points of the third period the two sides were tied on four different occasions, including at seven all. CLU, though, went on a 10-2 run that eventually finished at 18-9 to push the Regals in front 2-1.
In a must win fourth set, Paige Sugg (Federal Way, WA) had a kill to reduce the deficit to two, 13-11. That kill would lead to a four-point lead, 21-17, after Vanhofwegen assisted Esha Ball (Fresno, CA).
CLU, however, made a late push to try and win the set and the match tieing things at 23-23. Redlands, though, hung tough and used a Sugg kill and a Regal attacking error to even the match at two.
In the fifth set it was all Bulldogs. They went out in front quickly 6-2 behind three kills by Aminoff and Sugg along with a service ace from Lily Klinedinst (Lompoc, CA). CLU got two back to cut the deficit to two, but a pair of Regal attacking errors would give those points right back. Four straight by the U of R proved crucial soon after with Wagstaff, Sugg and Kautai connecting along with a Sugg service ace. Wagstaff then made it 13-6 with another kill and got UR a match point combining with Ball for a block. As it turned out those eight match points would be needed because the Regals went on a 7-0 run to pull to within one, 14-13. With another shot at the upset Vanhofwegen set Kautai on the outside that ended the match, 15-13, keeping the Bulldogs' season alive.
Head Coach Savannah Cox on her team's performance and fight to come back and win:
What an incredible night for this team. We've talked all season about believing in ourselves and staying together no matter what, and tonight they showed exactly what that means. To come from behind and take down a powerhouse like Cal Lutheran in their gym – it's just unbelievable. I'm beyond proud of this group and the heart they played with. Every single person in that locker room had a part in this win, and it's a moment they'll never forget.
Kautai finished with 16 kills and a .264 hitting percentage. Houston was efficient from her middle blocker position, hitting .316 on 19 attempts. Vanhofwegen ran the offense with 24 assists and 10 assists. In the backrow Klinedinst was everywhere picking up 31 digs along with adding a kill, an assist and a service ace. On the night the Bulldogs combined for 18 blocks, four coming from Ball and Houston and another five from Wagstaff.
Redlands advances to the SCIAC Tournament Semifinal this Thursday, November 13 at 7:00 p.m. as they take on the No. 1 seed the University of La Verne.
