Photo by Julietta Seirmarco

Los Angeles, CA — Women's volleyball played host to the Redlands Bulldogs in the final home game of the season. The Tigers celebrated their senior student athletes with a pregame ceremony that honored Georgia Schmidt, Leena Albelo and Aniya Hawthorne for their dedication and commitment to Oxy. 

After joining Oxy's volleyball program in 2023, Schmidt has racked up 11 career aces across 30 matches as a defensive specialist for the Tigers.

Albelo has played in 146 sets in 43 matches and has accumulated a team leading 34 aces in the 204 campaign and 457 digs in her career as a libero for Oxy. 

Hawthorne has played all four years in the volleyball program, totaling 263 sets in 79 matches, leading to her having almost 400 kills in her career as well as 100 blocks. 

In the game, the Bulldogs took the first two sets 25-22 and 25-16. However, the game was just getting started as Oxy would refuse to go away quietly.

In the 3rd set, Redlands was leading by a score of 24-17 when Aniya Hawthorne decided to take over the game. Hawthorne had two consecutive kills to make it 24-19 before adding an impressive block two plays later that brought the Tigers within 3 points of the tie. 

Hawthorne then added another kill to the score sheet, and two plays later Hawthorne would make a block on an attack error by the Bulldogs to tie the game at 24. To complete an improbable comeback, #16 for the Tigers racked up to more kills to seal the set for the Tigers. 

Still needing only a single set to win the match, the Bulldogs were on the prowl, but Oxy got off to a strong start in the 4th set. Eventually the set was tied at 15 all when the Tigers went on a 3-0 run to take a 18-15 lead. 

Later on, Redlands would create some of their own comeback magic by tying the set at 23 after trailing 23-19. The set would be tied at 25 when a service error led to an Oxy lead and on the set point an attack error by the Bulldogs gave Oxy the set by a score of 27-25, tying the match at 2 sets apiece. 

Oxy took a quick 4-2 lead in the set, but this time the Bulldogs battled back and gained control of the momentum. Redlands would eventually run away with the set and win by a score of 15-7 to take the match 3 sets to 2.

The Tigers showed resilience in battling all the way back from being one point away from losing to putting the Bulldogs on their heels and forcing a fifth and decisive set in the match. Aniya Hawthorne finished the game with a team leading 13 kills and 3 blocks and Leena Albelo totaled 2 aces and 10 digs. Georgia Schmidt had 7 digs and 1 assist in the game.

Oxy will finish out their season on the road in Claremont in a match with the CMS Athenas at 4pm on Saturday, November 9th.