SAN ANTONIO, Tex. - After traveling 1,400 miles a day ago, the Regals were back on the court for a double-header on the first day of the Trinity University Volleyball Tournament, falling to Emory (Ga.) in the first game 3-2, then taking the second game against Southwestern (Tex.) 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-20).
Game 1
The first game of the day saw Cal Lutheran lose in a heartbreaker against Emory University 3-2, who in the most recent AVCA poll was ranked one spot ahead of CLU at No. 5. The Regals won the first two sets 25-21 and 25-22 but lost the next three 25-19, 25-22 and 15-10.
The Regals looked like they would make quick work of Emory in the first two sets, taking the first set 25-21. CLU had their biggest lead at 12-7 when Emory had an attack error and was forced to call a timeout and regroup.
Emory would get it within 22-20 before Kylie McLogan recorded a big kill from the backcourt. Shannon Pearson, who had seven kills and just nine attacks in in the first set, sent home the set-winning kill with another one of her patented cross court shots to put CLU up 1-0. McLogan had five kills and a service ace in the set and Jena Chavez had twelve assists.
Great defense in set two led to a 25-22 victory for Cal Lutheran. Emory would race out to a 7-2 lead to start the second set but CLU would score six of the next seven points to pull even at 8-8. Emory and CLU would exchange the next two points but after a kill by Rachel Smith to make it 10-9, the Regals wouldn't relinquish the lead the rest of the set.
Thanks to kills by McLogan, Pearson and R. Smith and strong team defense, CLU pushed their lead to 19-13.
However, Emory would make things interesting fighting back to get the score to 23-22. But after a tremendous dig by R. Smith after an Emory block, McLogan smashed home the set-winning kill.
After the second set, things began to go the other way for the Regals.
Attacking errors plagued the Regals in the third set, dropping it to Emory 25-19. Down the entire match, the Regals briefly took the lead 18-17. But it would be short-lived as Regal ball-handling error tied the match. Down the stretch, CLU had three attacking errors to allow Emory to win their first set of the game.
The fourth set saw the Regals lead as much as 16-10 but continuing their defensive improvement from the third set, Emory held strong and scratched their way back to a hard-fought 25-22 victory, forcing a fifth set.
The Emory defense proved to be too much for the Regals as they struggled to find kills, leading to a 15-10 set win for Emory.
McLogan finished with 18 kills and 13 digs and R. Smith had 10 kills and 19 digs to both finish with double-doubles. Pearson had 16 kills while Erika Smith had 12 digs.
Four Emory hitters finished with double-digit kills. Alex Duhl led the way with 16 while Kate Bowman and Breanah Bourque had 14 kills and Cami Silverman recorded 12.
Sydney Miles had a game-high 54 assists.
Game 2
The Regals were able to rebound from a tough loss, and sweep Southwestern (Tex.) 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-20) in the night cap.
Coach Roesel used a variety of hitters to push the Regals past Southwestern. Pearson once again led the CLU with eight kills, Lauren Rohach, Allie Eason, and R. Smith all had seven kills apiece. Rohach finished with a .357 hitting percentage good for her season high
Caitlin Fransen saw extended playing time and made it count, hitting a career-high six kills.
From her customary setter, position Chavez was efficient again dishing out 33 assists.
R. Smith led the Regals with 15 digs while Kennedy Peters was solid in the back row notching 12 and limiting Southwestern hitters to just a .115 hitting percentage. Pearson led all players with three block assists.
Danielle Bochat had 13 kills and Taylor Wright had 10 to lead Southwestern.
The Regals return to action tomorrow for day two of the Trinity University Volleyball tournament as they face Concordia (Tex.) at 8 a.m. and directly after that game, they turn around and face No. 4 Christopher-Newport at 10:15 a.m. The match will be available live.
Box Score: Emory 3, CLU 2
Box Score: CLU 3, Southwestern 0
