The Pomona-Pitzer Women’s Volleyball Team has struggled the past two weeks, losing four of their last five matches. The Sagehens experienced back-to-back losses against Grinnell on October 18 and Whittier on October 19, but both matches proved to be exciting, close competitions. The Sagehens rallied after a first game loss to beat Grinnell 15-0 and push the match to four games (15-12, 0-15, 15-10, 15-8). The following day against Whittier, the Sagehens challenged the competition in five close games (11-15, 15-6, 4-15, 15-9, 16-14) only to be edged out by the strong Whittier offense. The Sagehen defense struggled in both games against Whittier and Grinnell’s strong outside hitters and large offense.

The Pomona-Pitzer team was able to redeem itself with a decisive win over Redlands in four games on Friday October 22. They finished strong, winning the last two close games 15-13, 16-14. The team maintained a strong 21% team hitting percentage. Individual performances from Susan Caplow ’03 with 13 kills and 15 digs, Samantha Hauff ’01 with 11 kills and 6 digs, and Alison Rindlaub ‘02 with 16 kills and 16 digs, helped the team both offensively and defensively. Elizabeth Shatzer ’03 performed defensively, digging 18 balls along with setter Erica Gamst ’01 who tallied 61 assists and 14 digs. This was the Sagehen’s third win over Redlands bringing their record to 3-0 with the Bulldogs this season.

Joseph Koch Alison Rindlaub ‘02 puts it down past a late block from her opponent.

But the volleyball team was not able to get back-to-back wins. They lost to a strong U. of La Verne club in three lopsided games (15-8, 15-11, 15-8) on October 23. While the Sagehens were able to perform defensively with 45 digs, they struggled offensively, hitting only 19%. Sophomore Alison Rindlaub played strong as she hit 33% and killed eight balls. The Sagehens were disappointed with their performance at the Voelkyl Gymnasium.

The team was again disappointed with a loss against rival Occidental College on Tuesday October 26. They were dominated in three sets as the Sagehen team struggled both offensively and defensively, managing only a ten percent hitting percentage and completing only two digs the entire game. Seven out of the nine Pomona-Pitzer players hit at an unbelievable 0% average as the team struggled without freshman outside hitter Colleen Chrisco, who couldn’t play as a result of the stomach flu. Occidental won decisively with a score of 15-13, 15-9, 15-7.

The Occidental loss brings Pomona-Pitzer’s record to 7-12 (3-7 SCIAC). They face Colorado College at home on Thursday night in non-conference play and then host their cross-campus rivals CMS on Friday in Voelkyl Gym to close out their 1999 home match season. They look forward to these games with optimism, Head Coach Pam Havlick stressed as she has before, "With each game we learn and grow as a team." Who knows where the end of the season might lead?