Bulldogs Break Through Against Willamette, Battle Ranked Squads in 1-2 Weekend
By David James Heiss
Redlands News Collective
Photo by Peyton Thibault
Sophomore Lily Kautaiwas, seen here during a Redlands loss to East Texas Baptist University during an invitational at Trinity on Sept. 5, was the offensive star of the weekend, racking up a team-high 16 kills and 16 digs in the win over Willamette while leading the scoring effort in all three recent matches.
By David James Heiss
Redlands News Collective
LA VERNE — The University of Redlands women’s volleyball team earned its first victory of the 2026 season on Saturday, capping off a demanding three-match swing at the WC/ULV Invitational with a 3-1 win over Willamette University after pushing a pair of nationally recognized opponents to their limits.
The Bulldogs (1-5) opened tournament play Friday in Whittier, falling 3-0 to receiving-votes Pacific Lutheran University before traveling to La Verne on Saturday to defeat Willamette 3-1 and battle No. 19 Batten University in a tight 3-1 setback.
Saturday Match 1: Redlands 3, Willamette 1 Redlands broke into the win column Saturday morning by taking down Willamette (25-20, 25-13, 21-25, 25-23) behind a balanced offensive attack.
The Bulldogs grabbed early leads in both opening frames, using a 7-2 run to seal the first set behind kills from San Mateo sophomore Lily Kautai, Lake Elsinore freshman Jaycee Hullar and Mill Valley freshman Krystal Rose Huff. In the second set, Redlands turned a 13-13 tie into a runaway performance, scoring 12 consecutive points to take a commanding 2-0 match lead.
After Willamette claimed the third set and surged ahead 22-20 in the fourth to threaten a decider, the Bulldogs answered under pressure. Sophomore setter Hannah Hajnal, of El Cerrito, connected with Huff to tie the frame at 22-22. Following a Bearcat point, Redlands closed out the victory with three straight points — highlighted by a junior Makenna Vanhofwegen ace, a Willamette error and a match-ending kill from Hullar. Vanhofwegen joins Redlands from Buckeye, Arizona.
Kautai led the offense with 16 kills, while Hullar added 12 and Huff chipped in 10. Vanhofwegen and Hajnal anchored the passing game with 28 and 21 assists, respectively, while Kautai (16 digs), Olivia Stanley (13 digs) and Rancho Santa Margarita junior Kaitlyn DeLong (13 digs) paced the back row.
Saturday Match 2: No. 19 Batten 3, Redlands 1 In the afternoon finale, Redlands went toe-to-toe with 19th-ranked Batten before falling in four sets.
After dropping a tight opening frame that saw Redlands hold a 20-17 lead before an 8-3 Marlin run, the Bulldogs stormed back in the second period. Redlands built an eight-point cushion at 17-9 behind early kills from DeLong, Portland, Oregon, sophomore Cecily Wagstaff and Kautai, cruising to a set victory to knot the match 1-1.
Batten pulled away in the third set, 25-18, but Redlands refused to go quietly in the fourth. Trailing 12-9, the Bulldogs rallied to take the lead and stood two points away from forcing a fifth set, holding a 23-21 edge late. However, the Marlins answered with four straight points to seal the match.
Friday Opener: RV Pacific Lutheran 3, Redlands 0 The Bulldogs opened the invitational Friday against Pacific Lutheran, hanging tough in the first two sets before dropping a 25-21, 25-21, 25-16 decision.
In the opening set, Redlands erased a 23-11 deficit with a 9-0 run featuring kills from Portland, Oregon, sophomore Emily Kitchin, Kautai and Wagstaff, along with back-to-back aces from Kitchin, before the Lutes scored the final two points. The Bulldogs remained within a single point as late as 22-21 in the second frame before PLU pulled away late to set up the sweep.
Up Next After opening the season against four opponents that were either ranked or receiving votes in national polls, Redlands returns home for its 2026 home opener Monday, Sept. 14, hosting Westcliff University at Currier Gym. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.