WHITTIER, Calif. — Cal Lutheran women's volleyball returned the favor as they went to Whittier and came home with a 3-1 win on Tuesday night. Scores of the match were 26-24, 11-25, 25-17, 25-19. 

The Regals picked up a big win and split with the Poets on the year. Whittier won the first match 3-1 as Cal Lutheran got payback with the same score. With the win, the Regals improved to 5-5 in conference and 7-13 overall.

"Incredibly proud of the fight in the group tonight," head coach Kellee Roesel said. "They were down in multiple sets and were able to battle and beat a well coached Whittier team."

Sadie Peete recorded her eighth double-double of the year and Tarin Rueckert added her sixth. Peete had 10 kills and 15 digs while Rueckert added 10 kills and 16 digs. Caitlin Murphy was one kill shy of a double-double and had nine kills, 11 digs, and four total blocks. 

Tess Holbert kept the offense moving and dished out 36 assists. She continued her impressive day and tallied her sixth match with at least 10 assists and five kills and digs. Against the Poets, she added seven kills and eight digs. 

Kira Mortensen led the Regals at the net with seven total blocks, three of which were solo. Amy Buffini was in the libero position and matched Rueckert with a team-high 16 digs. 

Set one was tied 11 times with each team taking the lead multiple times. With the score tied at 21, the Poets scored three straight points and looked to open the match with a win. The Regals responded with five points and claimed the set. The run started with a kill by Alex Hayes and was followed by a kill from Rueckert. After an error from Whittier, Hayes added another kill and Peete capped off the set with an ace. 

The Poets bounced back in the second set and tied up the match. The Regals fired back in the third. With the score tied at 4, the Regals went on a 10-3 run and took a commanding lead. Holbert and Rueckert recorded two kills each, Mortensen added a kill and Peete served an ace. The Regals held that advantage for the rest of the set and went up 2-1 in the match. 

The Regals carried that momentum into set four and with the score tied at 8 went on a 5-1 run and took the lead. Mortensen recorded two solo blocks and a kill and Peete added a kill. The Poets chipped away at the lead and got it down to two at 16-14. The Regals then scored our straight, with kills from Hayes, Peete, and Rueckert, and could feel the win. They did just that as they claimed the fourth set and the match. 

The Regals return home for their next contest. They host Caltech on Friday at 7 p.m.