Athenas Sneak Past Tigers in Five Set Nail-Biter

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - On Friday night, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's volleyball team traveled to Occidental to take on the Tigers in a SCIAC match. The Athenas dropped the opening set 25-20, but rallied back in dramatic fashion to take the match 3-2 (20-25, 25-12, 25-19, 15-25, 15-10).

CMS was led by Margot Mafra Spencer (SC), who finished with a double-double (11 kills and 11 digs). Shelbi Stein (CMC) finished with 10 kills to join Mafra Spencer in double digits, while Mikena Werner (SC) collected a match-high 21 digs.

After nearly a week off, the Athenas came out a little flat on Friday night. The Tigers jumped out to an early 11-6 lead in the opening set and led by as many as seven at 19-12. CMS battled back with a 6-2 run to pull within three at 21-18, but Occidental closed out the game by a score of 25-20 to take the early 1-0 advantage.

With the score level at 8-8 early in the second set, a kill from Margaux Arntson (CMC) started a quick 7-0 run for CMS. After Occidental scored the next two points, the Athenas rattled off five more points to take a 20-10 lead. In total the 12-2 run put some breathing room between the Athenas and Tigers as CMS went on to take the set 25-12 and even the match at 1-1.

CMS carried their momentum into the third set by taking a 10-3 lead early in the set. Occidental battled back and pulled within three points at 11-8, but they would not get any closer as CMS took the important third set, 25-19. Margot Mafra Spencer capped off the set with a service ace to push CMS ahead 2-1.

With a chance to close out the match in the fourth set, the Athenas fell into an early hole after Occidental opened the set with a 7-1 run. CMS closed the gap to just two points at 14-12 midway through the set, but the Tigers responded with an 11-3 run to end the set and tie the match at 2-2 and force a decisive fifth set.

Much like the match all night, the fifth set was a back-and-forth battle. CMS opened the set on a 5-1 run, but the Tigers came right back with a 6-2 streak that tied the set at 7-7. With the match now just a race to eight points, the Athenas jumped back in the driver's seat. CMS scored the next two points, thanks to a kill from Isabelle Taylor (CMC) and an error from Occidental. Trailing 9-7, the Tigers called a timeout to regroup.

Following the timeout, Occidental won three of the next four points to once again tie the game at 10-10. CMS absorbed the run and responded by scoring the final five points of the contest to take the set, 15-10, and the match 3-2. Kills from Melanie Moore (CMC) and Shelbi Stein highlighted the final stretch and the Athenas improved to 3-1 in the SCIAC with the win.

CMS will have a quick turnaround before their next match. The Athenas host Whittier in Roberts Pavilion on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.