WHITTIER, Calif. – The University of Redlands women's volleyball team (0-4) played RV Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) within four points in the opening two sets but would fall in straights as they would open up the WC/ULV Invitational Friday afternoon.
Despite winning the opening point of the match, it would be the Lutes who took the next five points. The deficit grew to six, 9-3, before Lily Kautai (San Mateo, CA) had a pair of kills followed by Cecily Wagstaff (Portland, OR) with another that cut the lead down to three.
PLU, though, scored 14 of the next 20 points and found themselves on top by double digits, 23-11. Redlands did not go away though, responding with nine in a row to get to within two, 23-21. During the run Emily Kitchin (Portland, OR), Kautai, and Wagstaff each had a kill and Kitchin added a pair of aces.
Despite the strong close, it would be the Lutes scoring the final two points to secure the opening set, 25-21.
The Bulldogs had a strong start to the second set never trailing by more than three through the first 23 points. They were also tied as late as 10-10 after a Kitchin and Brooke Patsch (Thousand Oaks, CA) block.
With the set deadlocked, PLU scored six unanswered points before a 6-1 Redlands' run made it a one-point frame, 19-18. Tiana Mariner (Lehi, UT) led the charge with three aces.
Across the final nine points the Bulldogs were within one at 22-21 before a 3-0 Lute push ended the second set, 25-21.
The first two points went the way of PLU in the third, which allowed them to hold a four-point lead, 6-2. A service error and an Esha Ball (Fresno, CA) kill cut that lead in half.
Redlands then made it a one-point set, 8-7, after a Krystal Rose Huff (Mill Valley, CA) connection off a Hannah Hajnal (El Cerrito, CA) assist and a Lute attacking error.
From that point forward, however, PLU scored eight of the next 10 points, which gave them enough breathing room to eventually win the set, 25-16, completing the sweep.
Redlands goes to La Verne for matches against Willamette University on Saturday, September 12 at 10:00 a.m. and No. 19 Batten University at 3:00 p.m.
