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Athenas Down Rival Sagehens

The CMS Volleyball team captured its third conference win in as many matches in a 3-1 victory over SCIAC rival, Pomona-Pitzer Colleges. In a packed Ducey Gym, the Athenas held a slight lead for most of set 1 before a 5 point serving run by freshman defensive specialist, Ellie Pickrell (CMC, Oakland CA) put the team ahead by 4 points. But the Sagehens battled back to tie the score at 23-23. CMS won the next point, then notched its 25th point and the win with an overpass kill by sophomore, Angela Estrella-Lemus (CMC, Gilroy CA).

 Set 2 was another close battle as both teams improved defensively. Ruchi Patel (26 digs for the match) led the Sagehens, and libero Greer Donley (Sr., CMC, Leawood KS) picked up 8 of her eventual 28 digs for the Athenas. CMS held Pomona-Pitzer to just 4 kills in the effort and captured the win 25-22.

 Pomona-Pitzer regrouped in set 3, more than doubling their hitting percentage and held off the Athenas 21-25. It looked like the Sagehens were in control of set 4 as well, and the Athenas trailed 14-18 before coming alive in the last third of the set. Senior captain, Helena Bottemiller (CMC, Burien WA) notched 6 of her 16 kills as did Emily Hudson (Fr., CMC, South Pasadena CA) who finished with 15 and the team allowed the Hens just 3 more points in an 11-point CMS run to win the match 25-21. Greer Donley had a season best 28 digs in the match and setter, Alex Harrison (Sr., CMC, Tucson AZ) had 52 assists.

 The Athenas return to Ducey Gym Friday night to host the Cal Lutheran Regals. The Regals enter the match ranked #18 in the nation. Match time is 7:30.