CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Cal Lutheran Regals dropped their third straight match in a four-set loss to No. 3 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas on Thursday night at Roberts Pavilion. Set scores were 22-25, 12-25, 28-26. 

Cal Lutheran moves to 10-9 overall and 4-4 in conference. The loss marks their fourth consecutive loss dating back to last year to the 2017 defending national champion Athenas.

Amanda Roberts led the team in kills with 11 and posted a double-double with 14 digs as well. Maci Haddad and Jordan MacArthur were next with eight kills each. MacArthur also added two assists and seven digs to her linescore.

Steph Rolfson led the team in digs with 16 and also recorded a double-double with 14 assists. Jennifer Kent put up 17 assists in addition to eight digs.

The first set was a back and forth match between both sides consisting of 10 ties and nine lead changes. Cal Lutheran seemed to have the advantage for a minute as a kill from Mackenzie Martinez put them up 18-16. However, five unanswered points for the Athenas quickly changed the momentum as they were able to come back and take the first set 25-22.

The second set was all CMS, as the Athenas were able to get out to an early lead pressuring the Regals and forcing them to commit errors. The Athenas took the second set with a commanding 25-12 victory.

Cal Lutheran fought back in the third set as a Haddad kill got the Regals rolling with four straight points to take an early 4-1 lead. The Regals held the lead for a majority of the set until nine straight points by the Athenas led them back into a 22-23 lead. The Regals pushed back though and made it 25-25 forcing a "win by two" in which Cal Lutheran came out on top winning the third set 28-26.

The fourth set once again started out in favor of the Regals as they were able to take an early lead thanks to powerful kill from Roberts. The Regals extended their lead after a Samantha Landrum kill, but rallying again was CMS as they recorded six straight points to take back the lead, 19-18. The Regals tried to fight back, but in the end the Athenas were carrying too much momentum as they won the fourth and final set 25-21 and the match 3-1.

The Regals are back in action next tuesday as they travel to La Verne to take on the Leopards at 7 p.m. PST.

Box Score: CMS 3, CLU 1
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Release by Scott Roberts, Sports Information Student Assistant