The California Lutheran University Regals volleyball teamโs (14-4, 7-3 conference) five-match winning streak and undefeated home record were snapped Tuesday night at Gilbert Arena, dropping a tight match against the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas (14-6, 8-3 conference). The Regals lost all three sets by a slim margin, but were ultimately swept 25-23, 25-23 and 25-22.
The Athenas got off to a hot start in the first set, as they took a commanding four-point lead out of the gate. The Regals fought to get back in the set with key blocks from junior middle blocker Aby Tibesar. Tibesarโs contributions evened the score and allowed the Regals to get a foothold in a back-and-forth first set.ย
โOur grit and effort was always there. I think it just came down to who won those really long rallies,โ Tibesar said. โThey were just able to put it away before we were, even though we were right there.โ
The Regals had a 21-18 lead nearing the end of the set, when Claremont-Mudd-Scrippsโ Head Coach Kurt Vlasich called a time out that allowed the Athenas to take a breather and regroup. Coming out of the timeout, the Athenas outscored the Regals 4-1, leaving the score tied at 22 apiece before Cal Lutheran called a timeout of their own.ย
Regals Associate Head Coach Alec Bennett said the timeout called by Vlasich contributed to a momentum shift in the Athenasโ favor.
โThey were able to just reset and kinda go back to their matchups. Kurt [Vlasich] did a great job, and he doesnโt call a lot of time outs, so when he does, itโs a big deal. He does a great job with resetting that team,โ Bennett said.
After Cal Lutheranโs timeout, the set continued with two more points going in the Athenasโ favor, before another Cal Lutheran timeout was called. The Regals were able to put up one more point in the set, courtesy of a kill from sophomore outside hitter Kaylee Clayton, before the Athenas took the set 25-23 with a kill of their own.
The second set began much like the first with the Athenas taking an early lead and the Regals fighting their way back into a close set. Digs from junior captain Keegan Corley kept the score tight and saved the Regals multiple times.
Again, the set was tight to the end, but the Regals could not close it out and dropped a second consecutive set 25-23.
Following the break, the Regals came into the third set and attempted to fight off a 6-0 Athenas lead. Despite their determination to close the gap, the Regals never held the lead in this set. They managed to level the score at 22 points, but soon after, dropped the set and the match.
Corley said she sees this loss as something to push the team forward.ย
โHonestly, I donโt even think it’s a setback. I think if anything, it should be a motivator for this team,โ Corley said. โWe work really hard on the court and off the court and it shows.โ
The Regals, who currently sit at third place in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, will end the season winless against the Athenas, unless the two teams cross paths in the SCIAC tournament.ย
โWe want to play them again. We want to show them, and everyone else that we are the better team. The goal is to see them again in the SCIAC tournament,โ Corley said.
On Saturday, Oct. 25, the Regals faced the Caltech Beavers in Pasadena, California, and emerged victorious in four sets (25-18, 22-25, 25-19, 25-16).
The Regals will next face the No. 1 in the nation, undefeated University of La Verne Leopards (20-0, 11-0 conference) at home on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m.
