CLAREMONT, Calif. – The University of Redlands Volleyball team took on the No. 1 team in Division III Tuesday night, ultimately falling in straight sets, but not before putting up a fight early against the Athenas of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
The Maroon and Grey continue to search for their first win of 2022 as they drop to 0-7, 0-3 SCIAC.
Redlands came in unphased with the undefeated Athenas (13-0) opening the first set with five straight points thanks to a pair of service aces from Maddy Schonauer (Bakersfield, CA) and kills from Bailey Hoblitzell (Elk Grove, CA) and Avery Aminoff (Alexandria, VA) with Lyric Waterman (Aurora, CO) assisting on both.
The quick start was not short lived either, as the Bulldogs maintained their advantage with Aminoff, Paige Sugg (Federal Way, WA), and Katie Allbery (Spokane, WA) combining for four kills that put UR on top 14-9. After that it was all CMS putting together a comeback winning 12 of the final 14 points to take the opening frame 25-17. Overall, the Bulldogs led for 29 of the 42 points in the set, while Sugg and Hoblitzell each had a team-high three kills in the set.
In the second the Athenas got off to the fast start, winning the first five points and taking a 6-1 lead. UR was able to rally with four straight after that thanks to two more Hoblitzell kills and a pair of service aces from Ella Goettsche (Eastvale, CA). A responding run from the Athenas put the Bulldogs down seven, 13-6 and despite another three kills from Allbery, Aminoff, and Hoblitzell down the stretch the deficit proved too large for the Maroon and Grey. Throughout the period UR was able to stay within single digits until the last seven points as they fell behind two sets.
After missing opportunities to win one of the first two sets, the Bulldogs were unable to get the offense going in the third. They held a 2-1 lead and found themselves down 5-3 after a Schonauer ace, and an Aminoff kill, but would quickly fall behind by double digits, 13-3. A 4-1 run in the middle of the set made it competitive at 13-6, but after that they won only four points the rest of the way as CMS would pick up the sweep.
By far the best offensive and defensive set for the Bulldogs was the first, where they hit .156 and held the Athenas to a relatively low .366. Up front the Maroon and Grey proved tough again compiling seven blocks (3 Solo/4 Assisted) led by Kiana Stradford (Mission Viejo, CA) who finished with one solo and two assisted.
Hoblitzell had a team-high and career-high seven kills along with a service ace, four digs, one solo block, and one assisted block. Laural Pittman (Los Angeles, CA) again led the back row with 12 digs. She also had three assists and no errors. Waterman had four digs and 11 assists.
Redlands returns to the court this Friday, September 30 when they host Chapman University inside Currier Gym beginning at 7:00pm.