SALEM, Ore. – Cal Lutheran women's volleyball (2-1, 0-0) claimed a victory over Linfield in the first game of its two-game slate today in the Oregon Trail Classic. The Regals cruised late to take the match in four sets–25-20, 24-26, 25-11, 25-18.

Midway through the first set, Cal Lutheran caught fire with five straight points to take a 16-9 lead, with Tarin Rueckert's fourth kill of the match as part of the run. Linfield (0-1, 0-0) responded by minimizing the Regals' lead to just one at 19-18, but Cal Lutheran regained its composure behind two more Rueckert kills to win the set 25-20.

The Regals opened the second set with an 11-4 lead behind three kills from Kennedy Smith. Another Smith kill extended the lead to 17-10, but the Wildcats turned it on the rest of the way to take it 26-24. Alex Hayes collected four kills in the set.

Linfield carried its momentum to a 3-0 lead early in the third set, but the Regals got back on track after two blocks involving Rueckert to take an 8-4 advantage. A 10-1 Cal Lutheran run busted the set wide open. The Regals' third block of the set kicked off a four point run to capture the set in dominant fashion, 25-11.

Two early kills and a block from Smith propelled Cal Lutheran to a 7-2 advantage in the fourth set before the Wildcats won the next five points to tie it at seven apiece. Late in the set, the Regals held a 19-17 lead before winning six of the next seven points to win the match, with a Smith ace sealing the deal.

Smith led Cal Lutheran with 12 kills, while Olivia Fernandes added 10 and Rueckert finished with nine. Makenna Kawamura totaled 21 set assists while Kylee Grimm collected 16, as the two continued to split time at setter. Libero Keegan Corley contributed eight assists as well.

Cal Lutheran had six service aces, as Rueckert dropped in three and Smith added two of her own. Rueckert added four blocks while Smith posted three.

On defense, Corley managed 21 digs as four Regals reached double digits in that category. Grimm and Fernandes had 13 each, and Smith totaled 12.

The Regals will look to continue their quality play tonight against host school Willamette.