ORANGE, Calif. – Cal Lutheran women's volleyball battled Chapman in their first meeting of the season, but ultimately fell to the Panthers 0-3 on Saturday evening. Scores for the matches were 15-25, 18-25, and 23-25. 

The loss brings the Regals' record to 1-1 in conference and 5-5 overall, putting them at fifth in the SCIAC standings.

Kira Mortensen led the team with 11 kills and three blocks. Kennedy Smith was next with seven kills and Sophia Muller had five. Tess Holbert kept the ball moving with 26 assists and Keegan Corley led the defense with 13 digs. 

The Regals started off strong in the beginning of the first set before the Panthers stole the momentum. The set saw a total of seven kills from the Regals. The first came from Holbert, followed by Smith, Mortensen, and Emily Ford.

Chapman carried their energy into the second set, taking a 2-0 lead in the match. Cal Lutheran fought with 10 kills, but it was still not enough to even the score.

The Regals stepped on the gas in the third set, determined to make a comeback. Muller started the scoring with a kill and the team continued to chip away at Chapman's lead. Down 20-24, a Panther error and kills from Alexis Holloway and Tarin Rueckert made the score 23-24, but Chapman took the final point and won the match.

The Regals' defense fought hard as they made a total of 44 digs and 10 blocks. The offense produced 32 kills and five service aces.

Next, the Regals host No. 14 La Verne on Friday, October 4th at 7:00 PM.