REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Volleyball team fell in straight sets Tuesday night inside Currier Gym 25-15, 25-21, 25-22 to Pomona-Pitzer.
The Bulldogs still seek their first win of 2022 as they move to 0-10, 0-6 SCIAC, while the Sagehens improve to 10-4, 5-1 SCIAC. After losing by double digits in the opening set, the Bulldogs came out strong over the next two losing both by a combined seven points as they continue to look for their breakthrough win.
Redlands stayed close early in the opening stanza getting within two on a couple of occasions at 8-6 and 10-8. Avery Aminoff (Alexandria, VA) had three kills and Lyric Waterman (Aurora, CO) added three assists in the first eight points for the Maroon and Grey.
After that PP strung together four unanswered that moved the score to 14-8. Redlands would win four of the next five points to cut the deficit to three thanks to kills from Ella Goettsche (Eastvale, CA) and Kylie Martin (Centennial, CO). But that's as close as UR would get as the Sagehens would win the final seven points of the set to take it 25-15.
Much like the first set, the Bulldogs trailed early in the second, but managed to tie things up at 16-16. Sparking that comeback was a 6-1 run, which included three kills from Katie Allbery (Spokane, WA) and a kill from Paige Sugg (Federal Way, WA). Kiana Stradford (Mission Viejo, CA) and Goettsche also provided support with a kill inside and an ace. After that it was back and forth with another two ties coming at 17-17 and 20-20. But for the second straight set the Bulldogs were unable to build off of it seeing PP win five of the final six points as they would go ahead 2-0.
In the third Redlands held early leads at 3-2 and 4-3 after another Goettsche service ace and a few errors by the Sagehens. With the set tied at six, Pomona-Pitzer took control with an 8-2 run that made it 14-8. Sugg and Aminoff stopped the run with a pair of kills and Laural Pittman (Los Angeles, CA) added an ace that cut the deficit to three. Redlands tried to keep it close down the stretch, but each time they would pick up a point PP would respond with their own.
With the set and match looking over at 24-18, the Bulldogs put together a frantic comeback winning four-straight to get within two, 24-22. Maddy Schonauer (Bakersfield, CA) helped with the run thanks to a strong serving effort and Sugg and Aminoff each had kills to keep the fourth set chances alive. This run though would come to a close as PP would grab the final point and the sweep.
The Bulldogs were led by Pittman who again topped the team list with 14 digs, the second most in the game. Sugg missed a double-double by one kill and three digs, Waterman missed tying her career-high for assists by two as she had another team-high in assists with 14. Aminoff posted five kills and Goettsche, Allbery, and Martin each with four.
The Bulldogs will hit the road this Friday, October 7 against Whittier College at 7:00 p.m. They then return to Currier Gym the very next day on Saturday, October 8 when they host Occidental College beginning at 3:00 p.m.
