Athenas Beat #25 Cal Lu Then Fall to Leos
CMS Volleyball split results in conference play last weekend with a win over #25 ranked Cal Lutheran University (3-2) and a loss at University of La Verne (0-3). Friday night, the Athenas hosted the Cal Lutheran Regals. The first two sets were close as Cal Lutheran captured the first 25-23, before CMS won by the same margin in set two (25-23). Cal Lutheran tightened up its offensive play, hitting .407 in set three behind the play of freshman outside attacker, Rachel Smith who finished the night with 20 kills. The Regals won easily, 25-17. The Athenas limited the Regal attack to 10 kills in set 4 and hit .351 to win the fourth 25-18 forcing a fifth and deciding set. Backed by the play of outside hitters Emily Hudson (So., South Pasadena CA, 14 kills overall) and Allie Macy (Jr., Walnut CA, 17 kills overall), the Athenas went ahead 8-5 before Cal Lu capitalized on a CMS attacking error. The score was tied 13-13 when CMS junior opposite Angela Estrella-Lemus (Gilroy, CA) went down with a knee injury. A subsequent missed serve by Cal Lu set up a kill on the outside for CMS and the Athenas won 15-13. Junior libero, Jessica Waggoner (Scottsdale, AZ) led both teams defensively with 21 digs. Hudson added 19 digs and hit .343 while freshman middle blocker Megan Levonian (Santa Cruz, CA) notched a season high 8 kills and 4 blocks. Freshman setter, Taylor Jones dished out 53 assists in the effort.
Saturday night, the Athenas traveled to nearby La Verne to take on the ULV Leopards. Facing their 4th match in 5 nights, the Athenas were poised to capture their first win over ULV in nearly a decade, but emotionally and physically exhausted, the Athenas never settled into a rhythm and fell quickly 11-25, 13-25, 12-25.
CMS will wrap up the first round of SCIAC play on Tuesday night at Ducey Gym when they take on the Tigers of Occidental College. Match time is 7:30.