Leopards fall after wild third set

LA VERNE, CA — The University of La Verne volleyball team battled in the third set against visiting Cal Lutheran, twice getting to set point in the frame, posing to chip away at the Regals' 2-0 lead.

But Cal Lutheran scored the final three points of the match to leave The Tents with a 3-0 win over the Leopards Tuesday night.

Set Scores: 25-23, 25-23, 31-29

Stat Leaders

Kelsie Sievers led La Verne with 12 kills with Haley Celaya adding nine and Darrah Jones putting down eight kills.

Madison Maynes dished out 37 assists to go with five digs and four kills. Kristen Sanchez finished with a game-high 20 digs.

Katelyn Winiecki had a solid game, finishing with seven kills and four blocks.

How It Happened

Despite what a quick glance at the final score might indicate, Tuesday night's match-up was highly competitive between the two squads fighting for placing in the SCIAC Postseason.

The Regals jumped ahead of La Verne early in the first set and was able to hold off the Leopards for the rest of the frame. After falling behind 21-15, the Leopards battled back, going on a 7-2 run to get to within a point of the Regals off a kill by Sievers and an attack error by Cal Lutheran. But Jordan MacArthur added a kill to give her squad the 1-0 lead.

In the second, the Leopards led for most of the set, aided by three kills by both Briana Voght and Sievers. But Cal Lutheran chipped away at La Verne's lead, tying the set 19-19 off a kill by Taylor Johnson. Sievers got her squad within striking distance of a 1-1 set tie, putting down a pass from Maynes to give La Verne a 23-22 advantage. Again the Reglas responded, rallying off the next three points to take the 2-0 advantage.

The Leopards made a push in the third set, taking a four-point lead late in the frame. Cal Lutheran then turned the momentum to their side, scoring five straight points to take a 19-18 lead. But Hannah Ruiz got the Leopards back in it, tying the set 21-21 off an ace.

After the Regals got to match point following a La Verne attack error, the Sievers caught fire rallying off three straight kills to tie the set 24-24. 

La Verne finally got to set point after a hard kill to the corner by Ruiz that put the score at 27-26. After the Regals evened the score, Ruiz again put the Leopards a point away from claiming the set, striking down a kill off a pass from Teagan Griffiths. But Cal Lutheran wouldn't let the match go further, scoring the next three points.

Season Impact

The Leopards move to 13-8 overall and 5-4 in the SCIAC. Cal Lutheran improves to 11-9 overall and 5-4 in the SCIAC. 

Next Game

The Leopards have a big test ahead of them this Saturday when they travel to Roberts Pavillion to face the No. 2 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas. The Leopards took CMS to fives sets in their first match-up narrowly dropping the final set 15-13. Game time is set for 7 p.m.