REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Volleyball team had their home opener Saturday against California Lutheran University, pushing the Regals to four sets, but could not build momentum falling 25-14, 20-25, 25-13, 25-11.
Redlands continues to seek their first win here in 2022 as they drop to 0-6, 0-2 SCIAC, while Cal Lutheran improves to 7-6, 2-0 SCIAC.
CLU jumped out in front quickly 7-1 in the opening period. UR was able to find their rhythm after that winning three of the next four points, which included a kill from Paige Sugg (Federal Way, WA). Mid-way through the frame the Bulldogs found themselves down four, 15-11, as six different Bulldogs found themselves with a kill. This four-point deficit though was the closest they would get as the Regals would string together six unanswered and ten of the final thirteen points of the set.
Trailing 3-2 in the second the Bulldogs found the spark they needed winning six-straight behind a strong service run from Maddy Schonauer (Bakersfield, CA) coupled with kills from Bailey Hoblitzell (Elk Grove, CA) and Avery Aminoff (Alexandria, VA).
The Regals made a response run that closed the gap to two, 8-6, but the Bulldogs would rally once again this time winning eleven of the next thirteen points to take an 11-point lead, 19-8. During the surge UR would use eight CLU errors to open the lead. Cal Lutheran found their footing right back winning seven of the next eight points to cut the lead to five. They again provided a scare at 24-20 with three in a row, but Aminoff was able to level the match with a kill coming off a feed from Lyric Waterman (Aurora, CO).
Kylie Martin (Centennial, CO) and Ella Goettsche (Eastvale, CA) started the third set with kills and gave the Bulldogs the early 2-0 lead. That advantage was the only lead the Bulldogs held as they would drop the third set 25-13 falling behind 2-1. Hoblitzell had a team-high three kills in the set. Waterman added five assists and Laural Pittman (Los Angeles, CA) with four.
Despite early service aces from Hoblitzell and Pittman, along with a kill from Katie Allbery (Spokane, WA) to begin the fourth set, the Bulldogs found themselves trailing 11-5. After a 9-1 Regal run that made it a 10-point deficit, 17-7, UR was able to gather just one final kill from Martin, while gathering another three points off CLU miscues. This though was not enough to keep the match going as they would fall 25-11.
The Redlands defense did a great job in the first two sets, holding the Regals to a .211 and .028 hitting percentage. They also combined for 13 blocks (1 Solo/12 Assisted) led by Kiana Stradford (Mission Viejo, CA) who totaled four block assists. Hoblitzell added three and Allbery and Aminoff each with another two.
Hoblitzell had a team-high six kills, which is a new career-high. Pittman posted 13 digs, joint game-high. In terms of facilitating the offense, Waterman and Goettsche had 16 and 12 assists, respectively.
The Bulldogs head to No. 1 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps this week on Tuesday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m. for their third SCIAC game of the season.
