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Volleyball suffers first season loss

Freshman Whitney Krantz (No. 11) of the women’s volleyball team bumps the ball for teammate senior Amy Kratochvil (No. 4), who had 10 kills in the Leopards’ 3-0 loss to Cal Poly Pomona Tuesday night in the Darlene May Gymnasium. / photo by Reina Santa Cruz
Freshman Whitney Krantz (No. 11) of the women’s volleyball team bumps the ball for teammate senior Amy Kratochvil (No. 4), who had 10 kills in the Leopards’ 3-0 loss to Cal Poly Pomona Tuesday night in the Darlene May Gymnasium. / photo by Reina Santa Cruz

Chrissy Zehrbach
Editor in Chief

The University of La Verne women’s volleyball team suffered its first loss of the season Tuesday night to Division II opponent Cal Poly Pomona, 3-0, in the Darlene May Gymnasium.

Until this match, the Leopards had a flawless 5-0 start, having defeated Azusa Pacific University in the season opener, and going undefeated against Chapman University, Linfield College, Whitworth College and Vanguard University at the Whittier-Occidental Invitational last weekend.

“Coming off the tournament we were playing slower offensive teams,” senior outside hitter Amy Kratochvil said. “(Cal Poly) had a quick offense and variation in their plays.”

The Broncos jumped on the match right from the beginning, trading points with ULV before taking the lead. After the Leopards were left standing, 30-19 and 30-23, in games one and two, respectively, they surged a comeback in game three.

With more intensity than the previous games, the Leopards fought their way to seven ties in the final game. Tied at 21, the Leopards went on a 6-1 run to take the 27-22 lead. But the Broncos, determined to finish with a clean sweep, took eight straight points to close out the game, 27-30.

“At the end it was their serving and our ball control that got us,” Kratochvil said.

“Cal Poly’s speed and power affected us a lot,” head coach Don Flora said. “I don’t think we played to our potential. We’ve played more rhythmic matches.”

Former ULV assistant coach Randi Smart, now coaching at Cal Poly, said she was proud of her former team during the game and could not help but acknowledge when the Leopards made a good play.

“They always work so hard,” Smart said. “They work harder than anybody I know. I’m proud of them 100 percent of the time. In my heart I’m still with them.”

Smart said Cal Poly was successful because of smart, strong passing as well as an established block and tough serving.

The Broncos increased their winning streak to three matches and handed ULV its first season loss.

Kratochvil and junior middle blocker Mandy Sedia led the Leopards in kills against Cal Poly, recording 10 each.

“I’m usually just as good as my team is playing,” Kratochvil said. “When sets and passing are good it’s easy to put the ball down.”

With six of seven starters returning to the squad and a strong class of newcomers, the Leopards have high hopes and expectations for the season.

“We have all the components to be as good as we want to be if we train at the right level and intensity,” Flora said.

Chrissy Zehrbach can be reached at sqweet@aol.com.

Chrissy Zehrbach, Editor in Chief
Chrissy Zehrbach
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