REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Volleyball team opened up Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play Tuesday night inside Currier Gym.  Despite the straight sets loss 28-26, 25-21, 25-23, the Bulldogs gave Cal Lutheran University a scare.

It was a story of runs throughout the night and UR had their chances but couldn't extend the match as they move to 2-5, 0-1 SCIAC. Redlands got off to a hot start with a 5-2 advantage capitalizing on a pair of CLU errors and getting a service ace from Natalie Starlin (Las Vegas, NV) and a kill from Saudya Reagor (Banning, CA).  Starlin then put together a 4-0 run on her serve, sparked by a pair of kills from Katie Allbery (Spokane, WA).  This moved the score to 9-5, but this advantage would soon be lost as CLU would go on a 9-2 run that swung the momentum giving the Regals a 15-10 lead for the first time. 

Their lead then extended to 19-12, but UR battled back with a 4-1 run, which included back-to-back kills from Starlin and a kill from setter Shelby Dawson (Fontana, CA).  This got the Bulldogs within four at 20-16, but CLU was able to weather the storm and get a set point at 24-18.  But getting a set inside Currier against a tough Redlands squad is no easy feat and UR showed their tenacity winning seven in a row, including five CLU errors and a couple kills from Starlin and Paige Davidson (Spanaway, WA) that gave the Bulldogs a 25-24 advantage.  They had the opportunity to go in front for the match but couldn't do it despite Starlin adding another kill that tied things up at 26-26.  But the final two points would go to Cal Lutheran as they would get a pair of kills. 

In the second UR again jumped out in front this time 5-0 behind a Dawson service run.  CLU was able to rally once again to tie things up at 12-12 and it was back and forth after that, including seven ties.  A Davidson kill got UR within one at 21-20 and would strike again to keep it a one-point deficit at 22-21, but a couple kills from CLU down the stretch would give them a 2-0 advantage.

The final set UR did not go away quietly jumping out quickly 6-3 thanks to kills from Davidson, Kiki Stradford (Lake Forest, CA), and Dawson.  But again CLU was able to weather the storm and chip away at the lead with a 7-1 run that put them on top 10-7.  The Bulldogs though were more impressive soon after stringing together eleven of the next twelve points that put them on top 20-14.  During the run Davidson had a pair of aces and Starlin collected another three kills.  This lead though wouldn't hold as the Regals somehow managed to fight back with seven in a row that put them on top 21-20.  A kill from Angelina Hughes (Wildomar, CA) would tie things up at 21-21 and Starlin would deadlock the set at 23-23 after a service ace.  But again CLU rallied to finish the sweep with a kill from Maci Haddad and an ace by Julia Trento.

Starlin finished with a game high 14 kills on 34 attempts, hitting .324 and added two aces and eight digs.  Hannah Miller (Round Rock, TX) played in the backrow and finished with 17 digs, four assists and two service aces.  Dawson totaled 25 assists and 12 digs and Stradford combined for seven blocks (1 solo/6 assisted).     

"Tonight, the team showed tons of progress, Head Coach Lisa Lindberg explained. "Our girls played hard, served and passed incredibly well and learned a lot, which will propel us into the next match against Caltech.  The rest of the SCIAC schedule will be exciting and we will be ready."           

Redlands returns to the court this Friday, September 24 on the road when they take on Caltech beginning at 7:00pm.