By Cyanna Rosa
La Verne, CA - The women's volleyball team faced off in a full set in The Tents tonight. Challenged by the 2-0 Whittier lead, the Leopards defeated the Poets in three straight sets with scores of 25-20, 25-15, and 15-12. The Leopards were led by the play of Senior, Ayana Mier, and Freshman, Mya Ray.
Senior, Ayana Mier charged up the night, with 21 kills, tripping up the Poets with her unsuspected delicate tips and killer attacks. Freshman, Mya Ray, put up 19 kills, carried away by the cheers on the bleachers.
The Leopards couldn't find their footing in the first two sets. However, they did show signs of potential in the first eight points scored while keeping the lead; five of those scored by the MVPs of the night, Mier and Ray.
Going into the third set, the Leopards found their footing and ran with it. Giving Whittier the first four points of the set, they came back stronger than ever, tying up the game 10-10 with Leo, Nalani Young's fourth kill of the night. In the third set alone, Ayana Mier, smashed 8 kills to secure a fourth set.
In the fourth set, the Leopards only trailed once in the first eight points of the match. Sophomore, Madison Smith struck four service aces to start and maintain a lead for the Leopards, 4-4. Junior, Nalani Young, had a great fourth set, also with a great serve streak and four kills, the last one to take the Leos to their fifth and final set.
The fifth set was the only one to teeter the lead back and forth. Hearts were racing and fans were on the edge of their seats to watch some of the longest drives of the night. Leopard, Mya Ray, started off the set with a score and Ayana Mier ended the night securing the win at the Tents with a final kill.
Women's volleyball heads over to Occidental on Friday, Oct 7, at 7 pm and comes back home to host Chapman at the Tents on Tuesday, Oct 11.