PASADENA, Calif. (Oct. 18, 2022) - Caltech's volleyball program played host to the Regals of California Lutheran University on Tuesday evening in Braun Gym.  As both teams demonstrated prowess from behind the service line, as well as going toe-to-toe in siding out quickly on several points, ultimately it was the visitors who got the better of it, as the Beavers dropped the four-set match 1-3 by scores of 22-25, 25-22, 18-25 and 7-25.  
 
Quick Shots
-Final Score: Caltech 1, CLU 3
-Location: Braun Gym, Caltech
-Records: Caltech (7-9, 4-7 SCIAC), CLU (12-8, 8-2 SCIAC)
 
Critical Moments
-In Set One, trailing 14-20, Olivia Xu (Markham, Ontario, Canada / St. Robert Catholic) went on a four-point service run that got the Beavers back within 18-20 before CLU sided out.  And when CLU had an attack error that made it 20-21, the Beavers went to the service line with a chance to tie the set.  Down the stretch, the visitors held on as the Beavers dropped the opener 22-25.
-After winning set two on the back of more solid serving from Xu as well as impressive play from the front court as well as service line from Sophia Parker (Palmdale, Calif. / William J. Pete Knight), the turning point in the Set Three, and the match, came at with the Beavers trailing 11-20.  Getting the ball back at the service line with the score 12-20 after a CLU attack error, Xu went on another mini-run, followed by outstanding serves by junior libero Angel Wang (Colorado Springs, Colo / Pine Creek) that forced a CLU timeout with the Beavers back within 18-21.  That would be as close as Caltech would come as the Regals reeled off four consecutive points to close out the set, with the Beavers narrowly defeated 18-25.     
 
Key Beavers
- Alexis Herfurth (Sonora, Calif. / Sonora).    While the first-year middle didn't get a ton of attacks (in the four-setter on Tuesday evening, she made good on nearly half, registering seven kills with only 1 error, leading the team in hitting percentage at .400 for the night.  She added a block assist and continues to impress in her freshman campaign.
- Halle Blend (Farmers Branch, Texas / Hockaday). Blend continues to add to her career assists numbers that have now well surpassed 1,000.  She also called her own number or was set and went over on two on 17 occasions on Tuesday evening, registering seven kills and two errors on the 17 attacks for a .294 hitting percentage, good for the second highest percentage on the evening.  She dished out 27 assists.  
- Sophia Parker. The freshman continues to bear the responsibility of an upper classman as she led the team with 43 attacks on the evening, registering a team high 11 kills.  She also had 11 digs on the evening, and was targeted in serve receive.  A few of her five hitting errors came late in set 4 when the outcome seemed well decided.  Her inspiring play continues to be a bright spot for the Beavers as the undersized outside's all-around game continues to evolve and grow playing six-rotations.  
- Olivia Xu . In addition to registering three aces to the lead Caltech on the evening, Xu's service game kept Caltech close all night as she frequently served CLU into uncomfortable, out of system plays that led to Caltech blocks or CLU attack errors.  Xu was also solid in serve-receive and was credited with 7 digs.  
 
Game Insight
"We're not into moral victories, but I was impressed by how hard our team fought tonight against the second-place team in the conference," Head Coach Tom Gardner said.  "We continue to grow as a group and it's impressive to see the continual progress of all of our team members, notably the Freshmen who are now playing like Sophomores.  We look forward to the remainder of our season and the continued growth and promise that lies ahead for our squad." 
 
Up Next
The Beavers are on the road at 7 PM on Friday, October 21 when they take on the Athenas of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges.  They also play on Saturday, October 22 at home when they host the evening match that wraps up Caltech's Fall Orange Out/Homecoming celebration versus the Panthers of Chapman University inside Braun Gym.