REDLANDS, Calif. — The Caltech volleyball team kicked off conference play with a 3-0 sweep on Friday as the Beavers topped the University of Redlands in an evening road matchup.

It was a dominant three sets for Caltech, who cruised to the 25-17, 25-18, 25-15 victory to pick up their fourth win of the season and second win in three matches.

Sophomore OH Sophia Parker earned the first point of the match after connecting for a kill off a ball from first-year setter Shreeya Thuppul. The squad would soon get out to a quick 10-3 lead, highlighted by a pair of kills from senior OH/OPP Claire Perhach, a kill from Thuppul, and one each for senior MB/OPP Helen Brackney and senior setter Halle Blend.

The hosts would close in on Caltech in the middle part of the set – getting to within two points as the score became 13-11 – though the Beavers would soon re-discover their groove. A service error from the Bulldogs would kick off a major 11-5 run for Caltech, who secured the Set 1 win two points later. The Beavers led for the entirety of the set.

Set 2 began with Redlands striking first, though Caltech would soon gain the advantage as they scored six straight points at 7-7, including back-to-back service aces from Blend. Redlands would again close in on Caltech's lead as the score became 19-16, but the Beavers would end the set on a massive 6-2 run to grab the substantial 25-18 set victory. Of the team's final seven points scored, five came on kills while one came from a service error; the remaining point came on an opponent attack error.

Redlands would jump out to a quick three-point advantage to begin the third set, but a number of impressive plays from Caltech would put the visitors on top as action continued. With the score 18-13, the Beavers would go on a monumental 7-2 run, made possible in large part from three kills from sophomore OH Marissa Till, giving the squad the 25-15 set victory and the three-set match sweep.

It is the fifth straight win for the program against the Bulldogs; with the victory, Caltech moves to 1-0 in SCIAC play this season.

The Beavers beat out their opponents in kills (41 to 26), hitting percentage (.299), assists (36 to 23), aces (8 to 2) and digs (46 to 40). It is the second-highest hitting percentage for the squad this fall.

Parker led all players in kills with 14; Hill followed with eight, just one shy of her season high.

Blend led the match in assists (19) as well as aces, for which she logged a career high (four). The Texas native led the Beavers in digs, with 12.

Next up for head coach Tom Gardner and the squad is a home matchup versus the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens this Saturday, Sep. 23 at 2 p.m. Follow live stats and watch live at gocaltech.com/coverage.

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