REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Volleyball team (14-9, 8-7 SCIAC) came back from a 2-0 deficit to upset No. 1 University of La Verne (ULV) 3-2 (23-25, 17-25, 25-23, 25-23, 15-11) Wednesday evening inside Currier Gym.
This is the Leopards' first loss of the season and the Bulldogs' first win over ULV since October 2010, ending a 28-match losing streak against the Leos. Overall, since 2005 the Bulldogs are now 5-39 against ULV. With the win the Bulldogs have also secured a spot in the upcoming Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Tournament, their first appearance in the postseason since 2009.
"I'm incredibly proud of this group and the way they competed tonight," said Head Coach Savannah Cox. "To go toe-to-toe with the top-ranked team in the country and come out on top says so much about our growth, our grit, and our belief in each other. Everyone played a role — from our starters to the energy off the bench — and it was truly a complete team effort. Clinching a spot in the SCIAC Tournament for the first time since 2009 makes this moment even more special for our program and our university."
Hannah Hajnal (El Cerrito, CA) setup Lily Kautai (San Mateo, CA) and Emily Kitchin (Portland, OR) for the first two points of the opening set as they led 4-0.
Following a 14-6 Leopard run, Kautai had two service aces and ULV committed a pair of errors that tied the set at 14-14.
The rest of the way the set was deadlocked at 16-16, and 18-18 before ULV opened a three-point lead, 23-20. A pair of attacking errors brought Redlands to within one, 23-22, but the Leopards were able to take the set, 25-23.
The second set was dominated by ULV early, leading 11-1. Then they went up by double digits, 19-8, before Makenna Vanhofwegen (Buckeye, AZ) assisted Cecily Wagstaff (Portland, OR) to stop the Leopard run. That point started a 7-0 surge for Redlands pulling within four, 19-15. They ultimately lost the set, 25-17, but they had gained valuable momentum.
ULV began the third set like the second, winning early points and holding a lead. Redlands, however, responded much quicker, winning six of seven points to take a 6-4 lead.
After a strong middle stretch put the Bulldogs ahead by two, 13-11, the Leopards won eight of the next 11 and were within six points of winning the match, 19-16.
Over the final 13 points, though, Wagstaff, Kautai, Esha Ball (Fresno, CA), Kitchin, and Avery Aminoff (Alexandria, VA) each had a kill to complete the U of R comeback, 25-23.
In the very important fourth set there were 17 ties including at 22-22. Kitchin had just tied the set off a Hajnal set before a Leopard kill got them closer to a match point. But two ULV attacking errors and a kill by Wagstaff gave the set to Redlands, 25-23.
Needing a quick start in the decisive fifth set, the Bulldogs put themselves behind early, trailing by three, 4-1.
Redlands, however, came back to take their first lead of the set at 11-10 after Hajnal assisted Aminoff for the second point of a 5-1 run. That push would turn into the game-winning surge as the Maroon and Grey finished the fifth set off winning eight of the last 10 points, which included three kills by Aminoff and a kill by kitchen that secured the 15-11 historic victory.
Hajnal finished with a career-high 25 assists as she got the start at setter. Vanhofwegen had 18 assists. Kitchin and Aminoff both had double figures in kills with 14 and 10, respectively. Kautai also had four aces and 18 digs. Ball finished with eight total blocks.
Redlands ends the regular season at Occidental College this Saturday, November 8 at 4:00 p.m. before preparing for the SCIAC Tournament First Round match-up November 11.
