RIVERSIDE, Calif. – La Sierra University hosted the Caltech volleyball team in an evening duel Thursday night. The Beavers fought hard and completed an impressive comeback in the third set of the match, evading six match points on an 8-1 run to win the set by a score of 27-25, denying the Golden Eagles the home shutout.
 
The opening set of the match was a tight battle in which La Sierra pulled away late to win 25-20. Sophomore outside hitter Alize Bakker (Portland, Ore. / Westview) totaled three kills in the first set en route to a 13 kill total in the match, leading the team in that category.
 
The hosts ran away with the second set and looked for the sweep in Set 3. The teams battled back and forth and the Beavers found themselves down 24-18, La Sierra only needing a point to win the match. The team did not back down and rattled off seven straight points giving them a 25-24 lead. Needing two points to win the set after La Sierra tied the score at 25-25, first-year Andrea Li (Calgary, Alb. / Sir Winston Churchill) answered the call with back-to-back kills, giving her five on the day to force a fourth set.

Setter Giulia Murgia (Iglesias, Italy / Istituto di Istruzione Superiore G. Asproni) led the team in assists with 17, trailed closely by first-year Lana Saopraseuth (Vancouver, Wash. / Union) with 15.

Head Coach Tom Gardner and the Beavers will look to build on the resilience shown in this game as they return home to host West Coast Baptist for an evening matchup at 6:00 pm Sep. 12 in the Braun Gymnasium.