THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The No. 22 University of La Verne volleyball team had its 12-match winning streak stopped by No. 2 Cal Lutheran in a 25-14, 25-9, 25-17 loss to the Regals on Tuesday night at Gilbert Arena.
La Verne was held to its lowest hitting percentage of the season at .023 (18k, 16e, 87att) and was outpaced by the Cal Lutheran attack which produced 43 kills on 85 attempts at a .365 clip.
The Leopards got nine kills from Kelsi Robinson, but the rest of the lineup was held in check. Cassie Thompson recorded three total blocks (1 solo, 4 assist) but was limited to three kills. Marisa Rojo had four kills, seven digs and a block.
Cal Lutheran had a 46-28 edge in the digging game and put away four service aces while the Leopards served up nine errors without putting one down.
La Verne falls to 20-5 overall and 11-3 in the SCIAC. Cal Lutheran improves to 22-4 and 13-2.
The Leopards, who beat the Regals in four sets on Sept. 30, matched Cal Lutheran's intensity and execution to start the match. In the first set, La Verne forced three straight errors to get within 13-12, but the Regals responded with a 4-0 run of its own to create a five-point cushion and ended the set on a 5-0 streak as the Leopards committed four straight errors.
The Regals controlled the second set from the start, claiming 10 of the set's first 12 points to jump out to a 10-2 lead and closed the set on an 8-0 run.
La Verne took its first lead of the match in the third set as Rojo registered two straight kills to put the Leopards up, 8-7. But the Regals immediately reclaimed the lead as Sarah Pappas, Hope Stewart and Michelle Lawrence knocked down consecutive kills. Rojo then converted another attack and Robinson put one away to keep pace but Cal Lutheran rattled off four unanswered points to grab control and never looked back.
Lawrence led all players with 11 kills and recorded 2.5 total blocks. Pappas had 10 kills and she also had 2.5 bocks.
The Leopards host Pomona-Pitzer at 7 p.m. on Friday at Sports Science and Athletic Pavilion.
