REDLANDS, Calif. - The University of Redlands Volleyball team recognized their four graduates Friday night as they fell in straight sets to the University of La Verne 25-14, 25-11, 25-21.
Prior to the game Head Coach, Lisa Lindberg honored her four graduates, which included Natalie Starlin (Las Vegas, Nev.), Paige Davidson (Spanaway, Wash.), Saudya Reagor (Banning, Calif.), and Angelina Hughes (Wildomar, Calif.).
The match started on a high note with the Bulldogs coming out firing on all cylinders, winning four of the first five points with Hughes picking up two kills and Starlin adding a service ace. That lead grew to four points at 7-3 thanks to a Hannah Miller (Round Rock, TX) service ace and a kill by Kiki Stradford (Lake Forest, CA) coming off a Shelby Dawson (Fontana, CA) assist.
A kill from Reagor would keep the Bulldogs out in front at 10-8, but that lead diminished as ULV would capitalize on four straight attacking errors by UR to go in front 14-10. Reagor, Starlin, and Hughes would add kills down the stretch to try and get the Maroon and Grey back into the match but it wasn't enough, as the Leopards would finish off the set with seven straight.
It was a slow start in the second set for UR trailing 12-3 early. They had no response for the .577 hitting percentage by the Leos and despite getting seven of their 11 points from their graduates, they still couldn't put together a run late as ULV would put them in a 2-0 hole.
The third set was competitive from the start with the Bulldogs staying within one early. Four unanswered by ULV would then move the score to 11-5 and they would extend that to 19-9 soon after. Despite the deficit, Redlands didn't give up putting together an 8-1 run behind a pair of kills from Starlin and three ball handling errors by the Leos to get within three at 20-17. Starlin would tack on another two strikes to keep the deficit at three, but the big-hitting on the outside by Ayana Mier was too much as she would secure the final two kills for ULV as they would complete the sweep.
Starlin finished with a team-high eight kills, coupled with eight digs, and two aces. Dawson led with seven assists, and Miller added a team-high 11 digs with two assists.
The Bulldogs season finale is Saturday, October 30 at 6:00 p.m. when they travel to take on Cal Lutheran University.
