THOUSAND OAKS, Calif — Cal Lutheran women's volleyball and Pomona-Pitzer went back and forth all night as the Sagehens snuck past the Regals 3-2 on Tuesday. Scores of the match were 25-16, 21-25, 19-25, 27-25, 11-15.
Tess Holbert,
Sadie Peete, and,
Tarin Rueckert all recorded a double-double to lead the Regals. Peete led her squad with 17 kills and added 19 digs, Reuckert had 12 kills and a career-high 22 digs, and Holbert recorded 48 assists and 12 digs.
The Regals held the advantage in aces and served 10.
Amy Buffini had three and Peete, Rueckert, and
Caitlin Murphy had two each. It was even around the net as
Brooklyne Miko,
Kira Mortensen, and Murphy all had five block assists. Mortensen added a solo block. Buffini had a match-high 24 digs and Murphy added 10 more.
The Regals took control of the first set and had the Sagehens on their heels. Up 13-11, the Regals used a 5-0 run and had a big lead. The points came from all over the court as Miko had a kill,
Amy Buffini served an ace, Peete added a kill, and
Kira Mortensen,
Caitlin Murphy, and Rueckert combined for a block. The Regals coasted the rest of the way and took the first set.
The Sagehens bounced back in set two and evened the match. The Regals started the third set with an early lead and were up 8-3. The Regals scored three straight to go up five as Murphy had a kill and ace, and Rueckert had a kill. The Sagehens weathered the storm and took the lead, going up 16-13. PP went on to take the set and had a 2-1 match lead.
The Regals looked to even the match in the fourth. They started the fourth set just like the second and went up 8-3. During a 5-0 run, Buffini served two aces, and Murphy and Rueckert both had a kill. As the Sagehens tried to close the game, four straight points had the Regals up 16-8. Peete started the run with an ace, Holbert added an ace, and Rueckert had a kill. Just as the Sagehens did in the second, they made a comeback in the fourth and took a 23-21 lead. This time, it was the Regals that fought back and they tied the score at 24. The Regals stormed back and forced a fifth set.
The Regals took an early lead in the fifth and jumped out to a 10-4 lead. The offense continued to come from everywhere as Mortensen, Murphy, and Peete had two kills, and Holbert and Rueckert both added one. The fifth set continued to be a thriller as the Sagehens cut the lead to 11-8. PP brought it back and then took the lead at 12-11. The Sagehens held off the Regals and stole the match.
The Regals (6-12, 4-4 SCIAC) and Sagehens (9-9, 6-2 SCIAC) will run it back as Cal Lutheran is at Pomona-Pitzer on Friday at 7 p.m.
