LOS ANGELES — The Occidental women's volleyball team played well in the first set, but couldn't sustain its momentum from Game 1, falling 3-1 against Whittier in its first SCIAC match of the season on Saturday.

Set Scores: 20-25, 25-21, 25-17, 26-24

Sabrina Degnan led Oxy with 12 kills and 15 digs, Taylor Goretta had 10 kills on .304 hitting, Jacqueline Rutherford had seven kills and Madelene Sellergren added six kills. 

Sydney Takauye had 26 digs and a pair of aces, and Allie Sundara had 26 assists for the Tigers. 

Ashley Whittall led the Poets with a game-high 19 kills and Makenzie Thieme added 17.

The Tigers did everything they could to erase a five-point deficit in Game 4, coming all the way back to tie the game at 24-24. Goretta hit off the block, Bethany Heitland had an ace and Lauren Duffy tied the match on a quick set down the middle, but the Poets countered with the next two points to take the set and the match.

Season Impact: Oxy falls to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in SCIAC

Whittier improves to 5-5 and 2-0. 

Next Match: Oxy is back in action on Tuesday at Chapman at 7 p.m. The Tigers next home game is Sept. 21 at 7 p.m.