Caltech Women's Volleyball faced off against the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens at the Braun Athletic Center Tuesday night. Even with only six players available, the Beavers were able to drive the match to five sets.
"I couldn't be more proud of our team for digging deep and fighting," Head Coach Tom Gardner said. "These are some of the toughest players I have ever been around and it's a pleasure coaching them."
Junior Alize Bakker (Portland, Ore. / Westview) kept the game close in the first set with one of her season-high four aces on the night. Bakker led the Beavers with 10 kills and 17 digs.
First-year Rena Zhang (Peoria, Ill. / Dunlap High School) had an amazing performance with three kills in the second set as part of her 12 total in the match. Zhang's three blocks and 17 points were both career highs.
"She has settled in to be a cornerstone of our lineup, contributing on a nightly bases in all facets of the game," Gardner said. "As the season has progressed, she has gotten stronger and more confident and carries the heavy workload of the outside hitter position extremely well."
The Beavers demonstrated their resilience by tying the score with the Sagehens ten times throughout the third set. Senior Giulia Murgia (Iglesias, Italy / Istituto di Istruzione Superiore G. Asproni) was outstanding, providing six assists to the Beavers in the set. Murgia totaled 19 assists across the match, a season high. The Beavers also kept the Sagehens to .000 hitting percentage, helping Caltech to win the set 25-21.
Caltech and Pomona-Pitzer traded blows in the final two sets. Beaver sophomore Stephanie Wallen made a kill that guided the team to a 26-24 victory in the fourth set. Her nine kills were a season high.
Junior Marissa Till (Woodinville, Wash. / Woodinville High School) was an all-around contributor with six kills and 14 digs. Sophomore Ailsa Shen (Calgary, Alberta / Western Canada HS) made three blocks for the Beavers that summed towards her season highlights.
Caltech Women's Volleyball travels to Claremont to face Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Friday, Oct. 24 at 7:00 p.m.
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