COMMERCE, Calif. – Scott MacKay and Jacob Tittl kicked off the 2014 SCIAC Swimming and Diving Championships for the University of La Verne in record-breaking fashion as both divers qualified for the NCAA Regionals on Thursday at the Brenda Villa Aquatics Center.

MacKay fired off a 488.80 in the finals and Tittl scored a 460.45 to finish 2-3 on the podium behind Claremont-Mudd-Scripps' two-time defending SCIAC champion James Stevick, who came from behind to register a conference-record 572.30.

The duo will head to Grinnell College in Iowa next weekend for the NCAA Division III Regionals.

Simplifying his workouts in preparation for the competition has paid big dividends for MacKay.

"Coming into the SCIACs this weekend, my coach and I have been cutting back on our workouts, resting more and just working on consistency," MacKay said. "It obviously paid off and we're really excited to be heading into the NCAA Regionals next weekend.

"I couldn't ask for a better way to end my sophomore year."

MacKay earned the No.1 seed in the morning preliminary round with a 486.75 and performed the highest scoring dive of the championships with a back dive pike that scored a 26.0. Tittle recorded a 446.20 in the prelims. All four scores registered by the duo shatters the previous La Verne record of 387.30 set by Tittl last season and surpassed the 440.00-point regional qualifying mark.

"Scott had the best day of his life with some of the best dives I've ever seen him do," diving coach Jim Luci said. "We are very excited and very proud."

MacKay and Tittl become the first Leopards ever to compete in the NCAA Regionals and will look to qualify for the Division III National Championships to be held in Indianapolis on March 19-22.