SAN DIMAS, Calif. — The Caltech volleyball team claimed a five-set thriller over Westcliff University on Saturday in the Beavers' first match of the 2024 season.

Caltech defeated their opponents in an early afternoon showdown at the neutral-site Mehl Court by a score of 25-15, 25-20, 29-31, 23-25, 15-12. The Beavers later faced the hosting Warriors of Life Pacific University to wrap up the day, but could not come up with the victory despite some excellent rallies and runs.

The Beavers never trailed in their first set against Westcliff; the squad won its first point off a block from rookie opposite/setter Stephanie Wallen (Miami / Ransom Everglades) and kept up the momentum to take the set, 25-15.

The second set saw the Beavers fall into an 11-6 hole, though a pair of back-to-back kills from first-year Brittany Rosario (San Juan, PR / Saun Juan Math, Science and Tech Center) and classmate Noelle Wilkinson (Bentonville, Ark. / Thaden School) put Caltech within two. Wilkinson came up with a massive block on the very next point to get within one at 12-11 before first-year outside hitter/opposite Andrea Li (Calgary, Alb. / Sir Winston Churchill) gave the team the lead at 14-13.

The Beavers protected the lead through the end of the set to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match; junior setter Giulia Murgia (Iglesias, Italy / Istituto di Istruzione Superiore G. Asproni) assisted on eight of the team's 12 kills in the second set.

Caltech nearly earned the sweep in a back-and-forth third set which saw the Beavers earn three match points, though the Warriors refused to accept defeat, ultimately pulling ahead to take the marathon-long set, 31-29. Murgia again played a massive role in the Caltech offense, setting up her teammates for seven kills.

Westcliff won the fourth set in another narrow battle, 25-23, leaving it all up to the deciding fifth set tiebreaker. The Warriors came up with the opening point though it was Caltech who scored four of the next five after a block from Rosario and Li, kills from Rosario and sophomore outside hitter Alize Bakker (Portland, Ore. / Westview) and a Westcliff attack error.

Massive kills from Wilkson and Bakker helped keep Caltech ahead before sophomore setter Shreeya Thuppul (Alpharetta, Ga. / Fulton Science Academy) scored the match-winning point off a service ace. The Beavers scored on six kills to just one error in the final set.

Wilkinson, Bakker and Rosario led the team in kills with 15, 13 and 12 apiece. Murgia led the team in assists with 25 while first-year Lana Saopraseuth (Vancouver, Wash. / Union HS) had 17. The Beavers had four solo blocks to the opponents' one; Caltech recorded just six service errors to Westcliff's 14.

The team had just a few hours to rest after the match before returning to the court for action against Life Pacific University. The Beavers picked up where they left off to begin the match after scoring the first two points and going up at 5-1, but the hosts began to find their own groove as play went on. A kill from Bakker put Caltech up 9-7, but Life Pacific soon took the lead before taking the opening set.

The Beavers hung around for the first part of the second set with kills from multiple players, but the hosting Warriors finished many impressive rallies to go up 21-14. Back-to-back points from Caltech put them within five, but Life Pacific stayed in front before taking the set.

The third set proved a back-and-forth affair with the Beavers hanging around down just three at 19-16 and again at 21-18, but a pair of impressive kills and aces from the hosts gave them the match victory.

The squad will now focus on its home-opening contest against Simpson University at Braun Gymnasium this Saturday, Sep. 11. The group will face off against the Red Hawks at 11 a.m. before hosting Hope International University at 3 p.m. Cheer on the Beavers in person and follow along online at gocaltech.com/coverage.

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