Bulldog Volleyball Earns Milestone Victory for Burningham, Downs Chapman University

Bulldog Volleyball Earns Milestone Victory for Burningham, Downs Chapman University
Posted: Sep 15, 2010

The University of Redlands volleyball team captured a solid 3-1 non-conference victory over the Panthers of Chapman University in Orange earlier tonight, giving Head Coach Mari Burningham her 100th career victory at the helm of the Bulldogs. The Maroon and Gray only needed the first nine opportunities of the 2010 season to accomplish this feat. Burningham reaches this milestone in the second week of competition during her seventh season with the team.

Last season, Burningham guided the Bulldogs to their first-ever Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) crown.

Against the Panthers, Redlands took advantage of an error-plagued opponent and jumped out to a quick one-set lead with an impressive 25-11 showing. In addition, senior libero Chelsea Arcaris (Vista, CA) supplied tough serving with four aces in eight attempts midway through the set, resulting in a 17-7 advantage that spurred the Bulldogs onto victory.

During the second frame, the Bulldogs put together their strongest hitting performance of the night with a .205 clip. Down 7-8, Redlands rallied for seven consecutive points under freshman outside hitter Morgan Buckner's (San Rafael, CA)) serve and never looked back en route to the 25-20 win.

The Panthers refused to go away quietly, taking an early 7-2 lead in the third set. Although the Maroon and Gray cut the lead to one at 13-14, Chapman held on for the must-have win by a score of 25-18.

With senior outside hitter Jackie Hamilton (Loma Linda, CA) serving, Redlands garnered a 6-1 lead and maintained control of the fourth set. In addition, Buckner appeared unstoppable by putting away eight of her 16 kills on the night, which led to an amazing hitting percentage of .400 on 40 attempts.

Hamilton and senior middle blocker Megan Phillips (Vista, CA) finished with nine kills apiece. Arcaris provided a match-high 42 digs while, freshman setter Alisha Cornick (Hollister, CA) dished out 38 assists.

Redlands (1-0) opens Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action on Tuesday, Sept. 21, with a 7:30 p.m. match at Occidental College in Eagle Rock.