PASADENA, Calif. — The Caltech volleyball team earned its second win of the season on Tuesday as the group cruised to a straight-set victory over West Coast Baptist College in an evening Braun Gymnasium clash. The Beavers topped the visitors 25-11, 25-12, 25-10 to make it nine consecutive 3-0 victories over the Eagles.

It was the Beavers' first sweep and first home win of the 2024 season; the squad never trailed by more than one point in any set.

Caltech jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the opening set with junior setter Giulia Murgia (Iglesias, Italy / Istituto di Istruzione Superiore G. Asproni) serving on all six points and assisting on three. West Coast Baptist found the scoreboard on the subsequent point but never got within five of the Beavers, who ended the set on a 10-4 run to take it, 25-11. Sophomore outside hitter Alize Bakker (Portland, Ore. / Westview) led all players in the set in kills, delivering five, including the set-winning point.

The Eagles opened the second with a 1-0 lead, though Caltech immediately responded with three straight points including a pair of kills from first-year outside hitter/opposite Andrea Li (Calgary, Alb. / Sir Winston Churchill). West Coast Baptist re-took the lead at 5-4 before Bakker rose up for a thunderous kill to tie the action at 5-5.

The two teams traded points once more before Caltech finished the set on a dominant 19-6 run, with seven different Beavers contributing kills. The squad earned eight unanswered points within that run with sophomore libero Jeylin Lee (Albertson, N.Y. / Herricks) putting up a commanding performance on the service line.

The Eagles hung around in the first points of the third set before Caltech found its rhythm at 8-7, ending the set and the match on a remarkable 17-3 run.

First-year outside hitter and opposite Brittany Rosario (San Juan, PR / Saun Juan Math, Science and Tech Center) led the set in kills with five and all players in the match, with 11. Bakker and Li followed with nine a piece.

Rookie setter Lana Saopraseuth (Vancouver, Wash. / Union HS) recorded a match-high two aces; she and Murgia led the contest in assists, with ten each.

As a team, the Beavers recorded a hitting percentage of .343 to the Eagles' -0.11; Caltech recorded 11 or more kills in each set.

"I'm really proud of our defensive effort and communication which led to quite a few points in transition," head coach Tom Gardner said of the victory. "It's fun to see them coming together and trusting each other."

The squad will have only a few hours to rest and recover before returning to Braun Gymnasium for another match tomorrow, Sep. 18 at 11 a.m. as the squad hosts Pacific Union College. Cheer on the Beavers in person and follow along online at GoCaltech.com/coverage.

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