Box Score Photo by samsphotoservices.com
LOS ANGELES — Claire Strohm led the Occidental women's volleyball team with 15 kills and 10 digs, but the Tigers came up short in a handful of close sets, falling 25-22, 25-23, 25-27, 25-16.
Hannah Wagner chipped in 10 kills, Amanda Herold had eight and Allie Sundara had 26 assists for Oxy.
Makenzie Thieme and Ashley Whittall led the Poets with 14 kills each.
Oxy falls to 5-5 overall and 0-1 in SCIAC play.
Whittier improves to 8-3 and 2-1. The Poets have beaten Pomona-Pitzer and lost to Chapman.
Game 1: Whittier 25, Occidental 22
With the score tied 17-17, Whittier's Alexis Mills had a kill on quick set and then a block with Whittall to go up 19-17. The Tigers couldn't get closer than the two-point deficit for the rest of the set.
Whittall led Whittier with five kills in the set, including the set point for.
Wagner showed off her power, putting down four kills in the set. Strohm had an Oxy-best five.
Game 2: Whittier 25, Occidental 23
The Tigers kept it close late, but lost the final point on a blocking error at the net. Strohm led the Tigers with four kills on .273 hitting during the set.
Theime had four kills for the Poets in the set and Whittall had three.
Whittier scored four points on aces.
Game 3: Occidental 27, Whittier 25
Oxy responded to the 0-2 hole by jumping out to a five-point lead. But after going up 18-11, Camryn Purdom had a run of great serves that ignited a 9-1 Whittier run that put the Poets up 20-19.
The Tigers bounced back and Cassandra Guidice gave Oxy the victory with a kill that went off the middle block and straight down to the floor on the Poets side of the net.
Game 4: Whittier 25, Occidental 16
Whittier jumped out in front and stayed in front for its most comfortable set win of the match.
Next Match: The Tigers are back in action at Cal Lutheran on Friday at 7 p.m.
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