Women's volleyball overcomes slow start to win in four

ORANGE, Calif. – Four players put away double digit kills to lead the Chapman University volleyball team to a comeback win over Embry-Riddle. The Panthers (2-0) were unfazed after a first set loss and won the next three in order for the 20-25, 25-17, 25-13, 25-20 victory.

Sophomore Ali Robinson led everyone with 13 kills on .417 hitting but senior Michele Hammer added in 12 kills, sophomore Kylie Cooke had 11 and sophomore Abby Smith completed the quartet with 10 kills. Chapman hit .261 as a team.

Embry-Riddle (5-3) looked dominant in the first set, hitting .325, as the Eagles built a quick lead and held off a late Panther surge to lock down the first set. After its sluggish first, Chapman regrouped and hit over .300 in each of the final three sets to key the win.

Another key came on the other side of the net in sets three and four when the Panthers had eight of their 10 team blocks. Smith put up six total blocks with Cooke getting her hands on five, including a solo stuff.

Junior Jade Santos did her part in the back row to limit the Eagles opportunities with a match-high 23 digs. Hammer recorded her first double-double of the season with 14 digs to go along with her 12 kills. Freshman Kaitlyn Raymundo had 47 assists and a pair of aces.

Jordan Jones and Jalin Yoder led the Eagles with 10 and 11 kills, respectively, while Megan Riley had 17 digs.

The Panthers make their longest trip of the season next weekend and will play four matches in the Colorado College Tournament Sept. 11-12.