The Caltech volleyball team caught a second win and won the third set of Tuesday’s match at the University of Redlands, its first SCIAC set in 11 years. The Beavers’ last SCIAC set came on Sept. 24, 2006 when they hosted Whittier College. Trailing the host Bulldogs by two sets, the Beavers opened the third […]
The Caltech volleyball team caught a second win and won the third set of Tuesday’s match at the University of Redlands, its first SCIAC set in 11 years. The Beavers’ last SCIAC set came on Sept. 24, 2006 when they hosted Whittier College.
Trailing the host Bulldogs by two sets, the Beavers opened the third set on an 8-5 run, determined to make a statement on the road. One of sophomore Alexa Lauinger (Ortonville, Mich. / Brandon)’s three service aces came during this stretch. The Bulldogs rallied later in the set and went on a 5-1 run of their own to take a 17-16 lead on the Beavers. The Beavers refused to wilt, however and quickly took the lead back with another Lauinger ace followed by a key kill from sophomore Lauren Li (Bellaire, Texas / Bellaire). With the lead back in hand, Caltech closed on its SCIAC foe for the first time this season. A third ace from Lauinger and another kill from Li, one of a team-high nine on the match helped the Beavers slam the door shut on the Bulldogs and leave Redlands with a significant milstone in hand.
Following Caltech’s historic third set, the Beavers gave the Bulldogs a run for their money in third set and scored 20 points. The two teams will meet again when Caltech hosts Redlands in its SCIAC finale on Oct. 28.
The Beavers saw contributions all across the lineup from their top eight players. Like Li, Lauinger also managed 13 digs. Freshman libero Allessandra Mondello (Kinnelon, N.J. / Villa Walsh Acad.) led her side with 16 digs and did not commit a single attacking error. Both of the team’s setters, freshman Krystyna Maruszko (Redondo Beach, Calif. / Marymount) and sophomore Ellie Walker (Minneapolis, Minn. / Blake School) flourished in setting up their fellow teammates. Maruszko led with 17 assists while Walker trailed close behind with 15 assists. Maruszko also had seven kills and 15 digs, proving once again to be among the team’s most versatile players. Freshman Isabelle Yang (Arcadia, Calif. / Arcadia) had five kills and combined with sophomore Helena Shield (Mercer Island, Wash. / Mercer Island) on an assisted block, and another freshman, Christine Yu (Fremont, Calif. / Mission San Jose) contributed Caltech’s only solo block of the evening.
Head Coach Tom Gardner and the Beavers will return to Braun Gymnasium on Sunday, Oct. 8 when the first host Mills College at 11 a.m., then St. Katherine’s College at 3 p.m. in a rare Sunday doubleheader.
