Claremont, Calif. (September 3, 2013) — The 2013-14 Pitzer-Pomona Athletics season got underway this weekend, including four matches in two days for the Volleyball team at Voelkel Gymnasium in the annual Pacific Coast Classic. The Sagehens finished the weekend 3-1, and were one point away from a dramatic comeback to complete a perfect 4-0 weekend, but they fell in five games (16-14 in game five) to Willamette in the final match on Saturday. Ellen Yamasaki ’15 had a key role all weekend as both a setter and an outside hitter, finishing with 94 assists and 19 kills, while first-year Samantha Quesada-Diaz ’17 earned a role in the rotation in her opening weekend collegiately, finishing with 13 kills.
The Men’s Cross Country team was voted No. 2 in the West Region by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association heading into the start of the year, and began the season with a strong effort at the Mark Covert Classic. The Sagehens finished second out of nine teams in the “Open Division”, with Paul Messana ’17 finishing in the top five on the team in his first collegiate race.
Women’s Soccer had an exciting season opener against Concordia (Irvine), twice coming from behind to earn a 3-3 tie. The Sagehens were down 2-0 late in the first half, but Mary Stafford ’16 set up a goal with a long crossing pass with just seven seconds left in the opening half to tie the score 2-2 heading into the break. Ying Fry ’16 and Sarah Ach ’14 were also in the opening day starting line-up.
Men’s Soccer had an exciting opener as well, but fell on the short end of a 3-2 final to Carthage. Lawrence McDonald ’15 had a goal to give the Sagehens an early 1-0 lead, but they were unable to hold on. Drew Lind ’14 started once again in his defensive midfield role, while Chase Abelson ’17 and Scout Pepper ’17 saw playing time off the bench in their college debuts. After falling 2-0 to Wisconsin-Oshkosh on Sunday, Men’s Soccer finishes off its busy opening weekend with a home game against UC Santa Cruz on Tuesday before starting SCIAC play next week with home games against La Verne and CMS.
Men’s Water Polo and Football will open their seasons this weekend, with the Football team hosting MIT for a 1 p.m. match at Merritt Field on Saturday. The Sagehens, who ended last season with a 37-0 win in their finale, will be facing MIT for the first time in school history, and feature 13 players from Pitzer on this season’s roster. Men’s Water Polo, meanwhile, opens its year with a tough match at UCLA on Saturday (the Sagehens also host USC on Sept. 14 as they start the year with the top two teams in the nation in the first two weeks). Jarrod Gaut ’14 and Stephen Vint ’15 will once again be two of the top offensive weapons this year.
This Week’s Schedule
Home Events in Bold
Tuesday, Sept. 3
Men’s Soccer vs. UC Santa Cruz, 4 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 6
Volleyball vs. Hendrix, 12:30 p.m. (at Cal Lutheran)
Women’s Soccer at UC Santa Cruz, 1:30 p.m.
Volleyball vs. Texas Lutheran, 5 p.m. (at Cal Lutheran)
Saturday, Sept. 7
Cross Country at UC Irvine, 8:30 a.m.
Volleyball vs. UC Santa Cruz, 11:30 a.m. (at Cal Lutheran)
Men’s Water Polo at UCLA, 11:45 a.m.
Football vs. MIT, 1 p.m.
Men’s Water Polo vs. UC Santa Barbara, 3:30 p.m. (at UCLA)
Volleyball vs. Schreiner, 4 p.m. (at Cal Lutheran)
Sunday, Sept. 8
Women’s Soccer vs. Willamette, 12:30 p.m. (at UC Santa Cruz)
Monday, Sept. 9
Men’s Soccer vs. La Verne, 4 p.m.
