REDLANDS, Calif. – Cal Lutheran women's volleyball (15-5, 8-4 SCIAC) took down Redlands (12-9, 6-7 SCIAC) on Halloween, taking the final three sets with ease after dropping the opener. Setters
Makenna Kawamura and
Kylee Grimm led a well-balanced offensive attack to a 22-25, 25-18, 25-14, 25-10 victory.
The Regals held an early 6-2 lead in the first set behind three kills and two blocks from four different players.
Madeline Magnani got off to a scorching start, recording four kills and a block in the set. The Bulldogs prevailed, however, and took the first set 25-22.
Down 5-4 early in the second set, Cal Lutheran strung together seven-straight points on the back of
Kennedy Smith. Smith tallied two kills and three service aces during that stretch. Redlands was able to tie it up at 17-17 before another Smith kill kickstarted an 8-1 Regals run to secure the set, evening the match at one apiece.
Cal Lutheran carried its momentum into the third set, opening a 13-2 lead with more heroics from Smith, as she accounted for four kills in that span. Redlands was unable to recover, and the Regals took set three with ease, 25-14.
The fourth and final set saw Redlands take an early 6-5 advantage, but it was all Cal Lutheran from there. A nine-point run, including multiple kills from both
Emily Ford and
Kaylee Clayton, broke the set wide open. Eventually, a
Tarin Rueckert kill finished off the set, 25-10, and the match.
Smith collected a team-high 11 kills and four service aces while adding 11 digs. Clayton and Ford each had 10 kills. Clayton provided 12 digs, and Ford stuffed two blocks. Rueckert (.368%) tallied nine kills and two blocks.
Magnani and Tibesar each managed a team-high four blocks. Magnani added eight kills, and Tibesar added five.
Kawamura recorded 25 assists, 18 digs, and three kills. Grimm collected 17 assists.
Keegan Corley led the team with 24 digs, adding eight assists and two service aces.
Cal Lutheran will look to keep up the success in SCIAC play with a home matchup against Occidental tomorrow evening at 6pm.
