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Volleyball unbeaten in conference

The University of La Verne women’s volleyball team won its 10th straight match from Redlands, 3-0 (30-23, 30-21, 30-11). Tricia Schary (No. 21) of La Verne had nine kills during the match. Throughout the match, the La Verne Leopards collected 69 digs and six team blocks. / photo by Reina Santa Cruz
The University of La Verne women’s volleyball team won its 10th straight match from Redlands, 3-0 (30-23, 30-21, 30-11). Tricia Schary (No. 21) of La Verne had nine kills during the match. Throughout the match, the La Verne Leopards collected 69 digs and six team blocks. / photo by Reina Santa Cruz

Melissa Rodriguez
Staff Writer

The University of La Verne women’s volleyball team showed the University of Redlands who the No. 1 team in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is with a 3-0 victory Tuesday night in the Supertents.

Once again the Leopards swept their opponents off their feet, this time showing the Bulldogs how to play the game and not allowing them to win, or even come close to winning, any of the three games.

The first game was strong with just a few minor errors by ULV, but as always the women recovered, came together and won the first match, 30-23.

“We started off a little slow, but we took care of it after,” senior outside hitter Jennifer Stout said.

The Bulldogs began the second game with many errors and allowed the Leopards to take charge offensively.

“We’re offensively very powerful and when we get our ball control squared away, and our rhythm’s good, we’re fun to watch and tough to stop,” head coach Don Flora said.

The third and last game of the match began with one of senior setter Amanda Thomas’ two aces.

Thomas leads the team with 36 aces on the season.

Immediately, the ULV women got into a rhythm and finished off the Bulldogs, 30-11.

“Everybody always plays their best to get to us, so everyone always gives us a run for our money,” Stout said.

Obviously their best wasn’t good enough. ULV outnumbered the Bulldogs with a .306 hitting percentage while the Bulldogs only hit .106.

Senior Amy Kratochvil lead the Leopards with 19 digs and 12 kills, and right behind her was Stout with 15 digs and 10 kills. The team had a total of 69 digs and 50 kills.

“Our offense comes fast, we hit high and we’ve got a very talented group,” Flora said. “We can come at you in a lot of different ways.”

ULV is ranked fifth in Division III and has won its 43rd consecutive match in SCIAC.

Last Friday, ULV played two matches against Benedictine and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and brought home two victories.

The Leopards swept Benedictine, 30-16, 30-18 and 30-19 in the Supertents.

ULV’s defense and offense was awesome throughout the three games with a hitting percent of .223 while Benedictine hit .000.

Later in the day the Leopards traveled to Claremont to defeat Claremont in another three game sweep, 30-21, 30-24 and 30-16.

The Leopards play away all weekend in the Wild West Shootout hosted by Cal State Hayward in Hayward, Calif. They have their first two games tonight.

“Friday we play at Hayward, we have four matches this weekend and Hayward is one of our big games on Friday night,” said senior middle blocker Adele Jones.

Hayward, often considered ULV’s rival in women’s volleyball, is currently ranked fourth in Division III, just above the Leopards who are ranked fifth.

Melissa Rodriguez can be reached at mrodriguez2@ulv.edu.

Melissa Rodriguez
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Reina Santa Cruz
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