PASADENA, Calif. (Sept. 1, 2021) – Junior Dallas Taylor (Phoenix, Ariz. / Saguaro) showcased her versatility in a dominant blocking display while splitting time at outside hitter as sophomore Halle Blend (Farmers Branch, Texas / Hockaday) double-doubled in a brilliant Caltech volleyball debut and seniors Hannah Fan (Saratoga, Calif. / Saratoga) and Megan Wang (Henderson, Nev. / Advanced Tech. Acad.) made impactful returns to the court in a thrilling five-set season opener against Westcliff University on Wednesday night.

Caltech rallied from a slow start to claim both the second and third sets. Taylor in particular energized the team with the majority of her seven total blocks coming in that span, including three straight points on a pair of assists followed by a monstrous solo block. The visiting Warriors recovered in the fourth set, however, and narrowly edged out the hosts in the fifth, 15-13, to depart with the win.

Blend impressed with 22 digs, two aces and five kills on a team-best .176 hitting percentage to go with 32 assists despite a team hitting percentage of just .055. Taylor contributed seven kills to tie for the team lead in points, while Wang made her typically high volume of digs (28) and Fan led the squad with 11 kills, also double-doubling with 14 digs. Senior Alison Noyes (Falmouth, Maine / Falmouth) also notched seven kills while sophomore Claire Perhach (Carlsbad, Calif. / Sage Creek) added five kills, four digs and three block assists.

Head Coach Tom Gardner and the Beavers host La Sierra University on Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.