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The University of La Verne will square off against Occidental College in the first match of the SCIAC Postseason Volleyball Tournament Friday in Thousand Oaks.
Start time for the Leopard-Tiger clash is 5:00 pm.
La Verne (18-10, 8-6 SCIAC) earned the #3 seed after sweeping past Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Tuesday night. Occidental (25-7, 10-4 SCIAC) is the #2 seed, winning 23 of its first 26 matches.
Top-seeded Cal Lutheran (25-3, 14-0 SCIAC) is the tournament host by virtue of winning the SCIAC regular season. The Regals will face #4 seed Pomona-Pitzer (18-11, 8-6 SCIAC) in Friday's second semifinal match slated for 7:30 pm.
La Verne and Occidental have split their two regular season meetings this season with each winning at home. Oxy handed the Leopards a four-set defeat in Eagle Rock back on October 5, with La Verne prevailing over the Tigers in a five-setter on October 26 at Frantz Athletic Court.
The Leopards fell to 3-6 in league play but have since won five straight conference contests. Outside hitters Anna Calmer and Randi Toomay lead a balanced Leopard attack as both are averaging nearly three kills per set in conference play. Middle blocker Catie Logan is among the league leaders in both blocks and hitting percentage.
Occidental's offense is led by sophomore outside hitter Logan Boyer-Hayse who is tops in conference play with 218 kills, averaging nearly five per set. Stephanie Gann was fifth in kills in league play with 188. Setter Jessie Altman ranks in SCIAC action dishing out 454 assists during the regular season while Madyson Cassidy also topped the conference in digs.
Three teams (Cal Lutheran, La Verne, Pomona-Pitzer) from last season's inaugural SCIAC Volleyball Tournament make a return trip with Occidental making its first appearance.