CLAREMONT, Calif. (Oct. 16, 2021) – Caltech volleyball stole the only set victory a SCIAC team has recorded in 11 matches against the national No. 2 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges on Saturday evening.

The Beavers attacked accurately for a commendable .367 hitting percentage in their victorious set number two, committing just one error on 30 attacks and earning 12 kills. The SCIAC-leading Athenas had only conceded four sets in their entire season before the match, with no opponent - including multiple other top 10 foes - having won more than one against them. 

CMS opened up the second set with a 4-0 run, but the Beavers rallied to tie it up 7-7. After the hosts again tied the score up at 9-9 and then 11-11, Caltech exploded ahead to a 24-14 lead, capitalizing on some errant attacking and ultimately winning the set 25-16.

Sophomore Claire Perhach (Carlsbad, Calif. / Sage Creek) led her team offensively, knocking down nine kills with a .364 hitting percentage and three block assists for 10.5 individual points. Senior Isabell Yang (Arcadia, Calif. / Arcadia) followed closely on the scoresheet with seven kills of her own. Junior Dallas Taylor (Phoenix, Ariz. / Saguaro) led both teams in the blocking category, denying the Athenas offense with two solo blocks and three assists while adding five kills.

Senior libero Megan Wang (Henderson, Nev. / Advanced Technologies Academy) led the Beavers in digs with 20, holding her top 5 position on the SCIAC individual leaderboard in digs per set (4.54) and total digs (309).  Senior middle blocker Alison Noyes (Falmouth, Maine / Falmouth) remains fourth-best in the conference with her .348 hitting percentage and sophomore setter Halle Blend (Farmers Branch, Texas / Hockaday) notched 29 assists in the match, continuing to lead the conference in assists per set (8.72)

Head Coach Tom Gardner and the Beavers are back at home on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. to host the Chapman University Panthers.