LANCASTER, Calif. (Sept. 13, 2022) – Road Warriors would be a fitting title for this year's Caltech volleyball program, and the beat continued as the Beavers travelled to take on the Pioneers of the University of Antelope Valley on Tuesday night.  Facing another NAIA opponent team hungry to win their first set and match of the young season, Caltech was up to the challenge, winning in five, competitive sets.

The match started well for the Beavers as they pushed out to a 7-2 lead, but it became evident, fairly quickly, that this night might turn into a back and forth affair as the teams traded punches, great swings, and miscues in the middle part of the set.  Stabilizing play for Caltech came from junior libero Angel Wang (Colorado Springs, Colo. Pine Creek) in serve receive as well as helping transition the Beavers from defense to offense.  Junior setter Halle Blend (Farmers Branch, Texas / Hockaday) distributed many hittable balls that provided opportunities to score for the Caltech attackers.  To that end Sophia Parker (Palmdale, Calif. / William J. Pete Knight), playing in front of friends and family, demonstrated she was ready to make herself at home as she swung freely.  Her empahtic kill pushed the Beavers lead to 11-7 as the first set neared the midway point. From there, the two teams traded points until Caltech ended the first set on another Parker kill, winning 25-17.

Set two started off in the same fashion as the first, with the Beavers going on a 7-2 opening run and then pushed it out 10-3 on a tip kill and great service run by freshman Alexis Herfurth (Sonora, Calif. / Sonora).  Another scoring attack by Parker led to an 11-6 Caltech lead and helped stem the tide after a multiple point run by the Pioneers. Service errors and communication issues cost the Beavers several points as the hosts closed to within 16-12. Wang, steady in serve receive through the first two sets, continued to pass well and provide opportunities for Blend. First year middle, Herfurth, continued to display an effective serve pushing the Beavers lead to 19-12.  Fellow freshman, Giulia Murgia (Iglesias, Italy / Istituto di Istruzioe Superiore G. Asproni) also demonstrated her dominance from the service line with her wicked jump float that allowed the Beavers to make a run as Caltech closed the second set on a kill by senior middle Dallas Taylor (Phoenix, Ariz. / Saguaro) with the Beavers winning 25-15.

The two teams switched benches again and Head Coach Tom Gardner was hopeful for a quick 3-0 victory and bus ride back to Pasadena for the road warriors.  The Pioneers had other plans and quickly took the lead in set 3, with the Beavers crawling back into the match at 4-7 on a backrow attack and kill by junior outside/opposite Claire Perhach (Carlsbad, Calif. Sage Creek).  Perhach impressed throughout the evening on attacks from inside and beyond the three-meter line.  As the set wore on, the Beavers fell behind 15-20 and ultimately lost to the Pioneers, who won their first set of the season at 18-25, with the Beavers still in front 2 sets to 1.

Set four started like sets one and two, with the Beavers getting out to an early lead.  Unlike the first two frames, Caltech couldn't maintain the lead, getting caught at 8-8 in the set.  UAV pushed in front at 11-14, but the Beavers fought back to get the score within a point at 15-16.  But the Pioneers, with their backs to the wall, made another nice run, extending their lead to 15-20.  Again, the Beavers answered the scoring run and got back within two points at 19-21.  Another Perhach kill extended the set at 22-24, but a big swing and kill by the Pioneers found the floor, winning the set for the hosts at 22-25.

Playing their first five-setter of the season, the Beavers fell behind 1-3 as the Pioneers used the momentum from the prior two sets as they sought a reverse sweep and their first win of the year. The Beavers were able to tie it at four and then forged into a 11-6 lead on the strength of Murgia's serve and a Taylor kill, the latter forcing a Pioneer time out.  The match got closer as the Pioneers closed the gap to 11-9.  But the Beavers got back on the beam and closed out the set and match at 15-11.

With the win and lengthy bus ride, the Beavers have now completed the pre-conference portion of their schedule.  They open up SCIAC play when they host Pomona-Pitzer at 7:00 pm on Friday, September 23 inside Braun gym.  The match, the first home match of 2022 and the first of four conference tilts the team will play in a week, will provide a great test to Coach Gardner's youthful side.

To follow the volleyball program all season long, as well as all things Caltech Athletics, please go to www.GoCaltech.com.