Regals Fall in Four at Westmont

Smith, Rohach lead the way for Cal Lutheran

Tuesday, Sep. 13, 2011 9:00 pm

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A run at the end of the second set helped Cal Lutheran turn its match against Westmont into a best of three contest.

Box Score: WEST 3, CLU 1 - F

Unfortunately for the Regals, the host Warriors would rebound and take the next two sets to defeat Cal Lutheran 25-22, 21-25, 25-23, 25-23.

The two have now split their last four matches played against one another, with the home team emerging victorious by an identical 3-1 score on all four occasions.

Earning double-digit kills for the third time in the last four matches played, junior outside hitter Rachel Smith led the way with 12 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Lauren Rohach ended the evening with a season-high eight kills, four of which were earned in the second set.

Finishing with 26 of CLU's 38 assists, Jackie Russell nearly set a new Cal Lutheran record in Tuesday night's match. Needing 39 assists to overtake Liz Martinez (1994-96) for the top spot, Russell fell just 13 assists shy of setting a new school mark for career assists earned, a number the junior setter hopes to earn when the Regals return to the court this weekend.

Led by Tessa Martin, four difference Warriors ended the match with 10 or more kills. 

Cal Lutheran will now have the next three days to prepare for Saturday's non-conference doubleheader at Gilbert Arena. That day's action will begin with a 10 a.m. match against the Chapman Panthers, and conclude with a 4 p.m. match against No. 4 Emory.

Live video feeds of both events will be available online at www.callutheran.edu/clutube/.