William Paterson University Athletics

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The William Paterson volleyball team (13-10) split a pair of four-set decisions against Occidental (7-12) and host Pomona-Pitzer (10-13) Oct. 17.
 
MATCH ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Tied at 20-20, the Tigers reeled off three straight points before an attack error and two Riley Elliott (El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge) service aces knotted the score at 24-24. However, an Occidental kill and ace handed the Tigers an opening 26-24 win.
• The Tigers scored the first five points on their way to an 11-4 edge in the second. The Pioneers put together an 11-2 run to seize a 15-13 edge, and the two sides battled back and forth to a 24-24 tie. This time two attack errors handed WP a 26-24 victory.
• Two kills from Elliott and three by sophomore outside hitter Korinne Bakken (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) helped transform a narrow 17-14 edge into a 25-18 third-set triumph.
• Trailing 18-13 in the fourth, WP scored 12 of the final 13 points for a final 25-19 win.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Bakken bested her previous career high with 21 kills, adding four digs.
• Elliott contributed 16 kills and 11 digs, while junior middle blocker Makayda Aldrich (Robbinsdale, Minn./Brooklyn Center) pitched in 10 kills.
• Junior libero/defensive specialist Bella Demers (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee) collected 25 digs and seven assists.
• Freshman setter Sara Rogers (Dacula, Ga./Mill Creek) had 43 assists and six digs.

 
MATCH TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• An early 6-0 burst helped the Sagehens pull away for an opening 25-15 victory.
• Knotted at 15-15, back-to-back kills by both Aldrich and freshman right side Presley Weber (McKinney, Texas/Emerson) spurred the Pioneers on to a 25-20 second-set win.
• Four straight Pomona-Pitzer points helped turn a 16-16 deadlock into a 25-20 third-set final.
• The Pioneers held a two-point edge (15-13) midway through the fourth set, but the Sagehens ended the match with a 12-5 burst for a 25-20 triumph.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Elliott finished with 13 kills and six digs, while Bakken put down 10 kills.
• Rogers contributed 37 assists and 15 digs.
• Demers collected 26 digs.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson hosts Rutgers-Camden Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7:00 p.m.

 
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