ATLANTA, Ga. - Following its first loss of the season earlier this week, the Cal Lutheran volleyball team responded with two impressive wins over Southwestern (Tex.) and Christopher Newport (Va.) on Friday as a part of the Emory Invitational. The No. 7 Regals dropped the first set to Southwestern before winning the next three for a 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-17, 27-25) victory against the Pirates. In the nightcap, CLU won a five-set thriller over No. 13 Christopher Newport 3-2 (25-20, 20-25, 25-10, 24-26, 15-10).
Game one featured CLU's 2012 NCAA West Regional first round opponent in Southwestern. After the Pirates jumped out to a first-set 25-22 victory, the Regals offense got back on track and eventually collected 65 kills throughout the match which was the third highest total this season. CLU fought off a stubborn Pirates squad in the second set 25-23 before cruising in the third set 25-17. In the final set, CLU had game-point twice before it closed out Southwestern at 27-25.
Offensively, Cal Lutheran had four players in double figures for kills. Leading the way was Kylie McLogan who had 19 kills. Fellow outside hitter Allie Eason was second with 13 while Pua Mo'okini-Oliveira had 12 and Hayley Tamagni had 10. Setter Jackie Russell had 45 assists to go along with a service ace and 12 digs.
Cal Lutheran libero Kennedy Peters had a career-game against the Pirates, notching a career-high 34 digs in the four-set victory.
Game two brought a rematch of last year's five-set match between the Regals and the Captains where CNU won 3-2. The 2013 edition required five sets again but it was the Regals who came out on top this time thanks to a season-high 68 kills including 20 from Eason and 14 from Rohach.
In the first set, CLU came out swinging, notching 18 kills on 44 swings for a 25-20 victory. The Captains responded in the second set by forcing eight Regal attack errors and capturing a 25-20 win. CLU cleaned up its offense in the third set, surrendering only one attack error on 36 swings with 15 kills and hitting .389 as team to take the set 25-10. CNU would rally in the final points to take the fourth set 26-24 but the Regals would not be beat for the second year in a row, holding steady in the final set and winning 15-10 for its eighth win of the year.
In addition to Eason and Rohach's totals, CLU got 13 kills from McLogan and 38 assists from Russell.
Defensively, the Regals were again led by Peters who gathered 19 digs. Jena Chavez came off the bench to provide a spark, notching 11 digs.
The stiff competition doesn't drop off on Sunday for Cal Lutheran (8-1). The Regals close out the Emory Invitational with a match against Millsaps (Tenn.) at 9:00am before playing No. 2 rated Emory at 2:00pm.
Box Score: CLU 3, SU 1
Box Score: CLU 3, CNU 2
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