Sweep of Redlands propels Panthers to record start

ORANGE, Calif. – A streaky Chapman University volleyball team handed visiting University of Redlands a three-set defeat (29-27, 25-22, 25-20) at the Hutton Sports Center on Tuesday night in SCIAC conference play. It was the Panthers' fourth straight victory and improves their overall record to 9-2 – the best start in Chapman's Division III history.

Chapman also improved its SCIAC record to 3-0 with its sixth three-set sweep of the year.

The sweep did not come easily as the Panthers needed a roaring comeback in the first set and then held off a determined Redlands team for the 29-27 win. Chapman trailed 16-11 and 21-16 late in the set before rallying to tie it at 22 and then took a 23-22 lead. From that point on Chapman never trailed, and then converted on game point on a kill by senior OH Laura Posada for the win. Posada finished with seven kills in the match.

Again in the third set, the Panthers could not put away the stingy Bulldogs who rallied from an 18-14 deficit to tie the set at 20-20. Following a Chapman timeout, the Panthers earned a sideout on one of senior OH Ashleigh Gideon's match-high 15 kills and then scored the final four points to win going away. Gideon added 11 digs in the match to earn a double-double.

The play of Chapman's middle blockers was strong once again as senior Kate Ferrin and sophomore Val Geiger each finished with 10 kills. Junior S Corrine Ostrovsky earned 52 assists, a career-high for a three-set match.

For Redlands (3-5, 0-3 SCIAC), junior OH Morgan Buckner paced the offense with 10 kills while junior libero Brittney Overgaag led all players with 20 digs.

Since moving to Division III in 1994, Chapman has begun the season 8-3 twice in 1994 and '97. The win was the Panthers' ninth in their past 10 matches after losing the season opener at the Pomona-Pitzer Tournament. Chapman has also won six consecutive matches on its home floor dating back to last year.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Box score: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wvball/2012-13/boxscores/20120918_w57l.xml

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