CMS Volleyball Remains Perfect, Closes in on SCIAC Regular Season Title

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's volleyball team improved to 22-0 overall and 12-0 in SCIAC without dropping a set, as it captured a 25-12, 25-18, 25-6 win over Caltech on Friday evening at Roberts Pavilion.

Georgia McGovern had 23 assists, nine digs and four aces to lead a balanced offensive attack, with Brooke McKee and Brenna Bell leading with seven kills apiece. Dede Carranza had 15 digs to pace a defense that held Caltech to a negative hitting percentage in all three sets, and -.069 for the match, with 20 errors and just 14 kills. 

The Beavers did put up a fight in the second set, trailing just 19-16 late before CMS went on a 6-2 run to close it out. Lauren Parker had a solo block and Spencer Hagenbuch followed with an ace to put the Athenas ahead 22-16. After an exchange of points, Parker followed with another block, combining with Summer Ellis, and Ellis then capped off the 25-18 win with a kill. 

CMS left no doubt in the third set by rolling out to a 9-1 lead, capped off by a Jackie Jones ace. After Caltech earned the next point, CMS went on a 5-0 run to go ahead 14-2, culminating in back-to-back Carranza aces. McGovern finished off the match with her fourth ace, and the 12th for CMS as a team, after assisting on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th points, from Dani Beder, Sonia Bliss and Bell, respectively.

Several Athenas were efficient in limited swings, with Kelsey Polhemus registering four kills in five attempts, Bliss tallying three in give attempts, and Ellis three in six attempts, all with out an error. Parker also had three kills in four attempts with one error to hit .500, to go along with a team-high three blocks. 

CMS will be back in action tomorrow at 4 p.m. when it crosses the street to take on Pomona-Pitzer. A win over the Sagehens and a Cal Lutheran loss to Whittier would clinch the SCIAC regular season title for the Athenas.