LA VERNE, Calif. — All-Americans Kelsi Robinson and Brittany Yaxley combined for 20 kills to lead University of la Verne to a 25-19, 25-14, 25-21 victory over Whittier on Friday night at Sports Science and Athletic Pavilion.
The win takes La Verne to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in SCIAC play. Whittier falls to 7-3 and 0-1.
Yaxley recorded 10 kills in 20 attempts while having a game high in 14 digs. Robinson was just as efficient, registering 10 kills in 19 attempts.
Cassie Thompson was strong at the net, tallying three total blocks. Tiffany Mancuso handed out a game-high with 20 assists.
All three sets started closely with both teams trading points, but the Leopards asserted their will midway through each.
The Leopards used a 7-1 run in the first set to stake at to at 16-11 lead and never looked back. Destinee Sales carried the Leopards in the first set, going a perfect 4-for-4 in the frame.
Whittier jumped out to a 5-3 lead in the second set, but La Verne quickly regained control with seven unanswered points led by a pair of kills from Yaxley and a block by Thompson. The Leopards ripped off another big run later in the set after the Poets crept back within 14-10 as Ashlyn Cross put down two kills to lead a 6-0 La Verne run.
Whitter hung tough until late in the third set. The Leopards went out to a 16-10 lead but the Poets fought back to get within 21-19 and 23-21. But Sales registered a kill to set up the match point, a Casie Lowden attempt went wide and the Leopards sealed the win.
Freshmen Madison Hickey and Kristen Sanchez figured prominently into the game once again. Hickey gave out 13 assists with three digs and Sanchez recorded nine digs.
The Leopards return to action on Tuesday when they go up against Claremont Mudd Scripts at 7:30 p.m. in the Pavilion.