Regals Volleyball Goes 2-0 on Day One of Cal Lu Fornia Invitational

Photo: Mariah Zermeno
Photo: Mariah Zermeno

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.—Cal Lutheran Regals Volleyball recorded a pair of 3-1 victories as they defeated UC Santa Cruz and Texas Lutheran Friday on day one of the Cal Lu Fornia Invitational.

The Regals saw great play from many different areas as they improved to 4-2 on the season. They look to continue that momentum tomorrow on day two of their annual tournament.

Game One – CLU 3, UCSC 1 (25-15, 21-25, 25-20, 25-15)

The Regals offense led the way against the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs as four Regals tallied double-digit kills. Sarah Hein recorded a match-high 15 kills and Maci Haddad was next with 12 and Jojo MacArthur and Morgan Given tallied 11 and 10, respectively. 

Jennifer Kent dished out a season-high 45 assists as she kept the offense moving and added a season-high 18 digs for her second double-double of the year. Joining her in the dig column with 18 digs, and a new season-high, was libero Carly Rose Howard.

Cal Lutheran continued its stellar, all-around play, with the next phase, the net. Haddad recorded a team-high five total blocks, Hein had thee and Christina Williams and Given added two more apiece.

The first set remained close, with Cal Lutheran up 14-13, but then the Regals turned it on. CLU scored 11 of the next 13 points and took the set 25-15. UCSC bounced back and won the second set 25-21, and the Regals answered in the third, winning 25-20. CLU closed out the match the same way they opened it, winning the fourth set 25-15 and the match 3-1. 

Game Two – CLU 3, TLU 1 (24-26, 25-19, 25-21, 25-22)

Kent recorded her third double-double of the young season as she totaled 44 assists and 10 digs to go along with two service aces and a block assist. 

More notable Regals included Hein with a double-double of 13 kills and 10 digs, MacArthur with a team-high 14 kills, nine digs and five service aces, Haddad 11 kills, five digs and four blocks, Williams with seven kills and four blocks, Howard had 15 digs, Julia Trento with 11 digs and Samantha Landrum with three blocks and three kills.

The Texas Lutheran Bulldogs escaped with the first set win as the Regals would try to answer in the next set. The Regals did just that as they jumped out to a quick 10-4 lead in set two. The rest of the set would go back-and-forth, and the Regals never let the Bulldogs back into the set and tied the match at 1-1 with a 25-19 win. 

The Regals faced some adversity throughout the rest of the match as the Bulldogs put up a big fight. With set three tied at 18, CLU scored four straight points as they looked to clinch the set. Hein recorded a kill and the Regals had great defense at the net to force three Bulldog errors. CLU won the set 25-21 and looked to end the match in four. After beingdown 8-3, the Regals fought back to tie the match at 13, eventually taking the lead with 15-13. Texas Lutheran could not recover as CLU won the set 25-22 and the match 3-1.

Cal Lutheran continues the Cal Lu Fornia on Saturday with two more matches. The Regals get Concordia (Texas) at 1:30 p.m. and Puget Sound at 6. 

Interview with Sarah Hein and Samantha Landrum:

Box Score: CLU 3, UCSC 1CLU 3, TLU 1
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director