Streaking Panthers beat Pomona-Pitzer in three sets

ORANGE, Calif. – Winning for the ninth time in its past 11 matches, the Chapman University volleyball team cruised to a three-set victory over visiting Pomona-Pitzer Colleges 25-20, 25-13, 25-15 on Wednesday night at the Hutton Sports Center. The Panthers matched their longest winning streak of the season at four in a row and improved to 4-1 at home this year.

Aside from a brief scoring run by the Sagehens late in the first set, Chapman (17-7) had little trouble en route to its third consecutive and 11th sweep of the season. The Panthers built a 20-9 lead in the first set before the Sagehens responded with an 8-2 run, cutting the Chapman lead to five. However, the Panthers responded with kills from junior OH Ashleigh Gideon and sophomore OH McKenna Roice to win 25-20. Gideon finished with six kills in the match to go along with 17 digs.

In the second set, junior MB Kate Ferrin took control with four of her match-high 12 kills helping the Panthers to an 11-3 lead. Chapman never looked back winning 25-13 on a final kill by sophomore OH Jenny Gibson.

Pomona-Pitzer (5-13) recorded a hitting percentage of -.200 (3 kills, 12 errors, 45 attempts) in the third and final set to aid the Chapman cause. The Sagehens hit -.024 for the match to drop their fourth in a row.

Sophomore S Corrine Ostrovsky finished with 39 assists and tallied 13 digs for Chapman. Senior L Alyssa Swatek had a match-high 26 digs, as well. Sophomore OH Lena Buckendorf added seven kills and 10 digs. The Panthers have won 11 consecutive sets.

Chapman will travel to Colorado Springs, Colo. for the weekend to play four matches in a tournament at Colorado College. With seven regular season matches remaining, The Panthers need just three wins to reach 20 for the first time since 1994.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wvball/2011-12/boxscores/20111012_ny0t.xml