Steven Falls
Sports Editor
The University of La Verne women’s volleyball team continued to roll through the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season with sweeps over Pomona-Pitzer, Cal Tech and Redlands last weekend. The Leopards also clinched the SCIAC title with a win over rival Cal Lutheran on Tuesday night in Thousand Oaks.
ULV, carrying its conference undefeated streak, traveled to the hostile grounds of Cal Lu on Tuesday night hoping to clinch their fifth straight SCIAC title.
The Leopards received a scare in the first game of the match losing, 30-27. With the high energy and volatile crowd, ULV responded to win the next three games handily and take the match, 3-1 (27-30, 30-19, 30-22, 30-18).
Despite the opening game loss and the unfamiliarity of the court, the Leopards responded in style.
“We weren’t worried,” senior middle blocker Tricia Schary said. “We knew we were the better team and we were going to win.”
The first game loss put an end to the Leopards’ attempt at a conference record of undefeated games throughout a SCIAC season.
The team last lost a match game on Oct. 28 of last year when they defeated Redlands, 3-2. The Leopards have not lost a conference match since October of 2000.
“Cal Lu played unreal,” head coach Don Flora said. “After that game, we took it to them.”
With the loss of a chance at an amazing record, the team seemed disappointed, but perfectly content with winning the match.
“We were pissed,” senior setter Amanda Thomas said. “As long as we win the match then that’s all that matters.”
Flora seemed happy with how long the streak lasted, but reiterated how well his team played in the hostile environment.
“It was a nice win streak,” Flora said. “We played clean and efficient volleyball.”
Thomas collected team highs with 35 set assists and 23 digs. Senior Amy Kratochvil pitched in with 18 kills and 14 digs while teammate Jennifer Stout added 13 kills and 13 digs for the Leopards.
The win improved ULV to 28-3 overall and 13-0 in SCIAC, and also clinched their fifth straight SCIAC title. With the victory, the Leopards also earned an automatic berth into the 2004 National Collegiate Athletic Association Western Regionals, which begins Nov. 11th.
Last Saturday’s double-header featured matches against SCIAC rivals Pomona-Pitzer and Cal Tech.
In the nightcap of the double-header, the Leopards swept the Sagehens in straight games to take the match, 3-0 (30-20, 30-18, 30-20).
Senior outside hitter Amy Kratochvil paced the Leopards with 18 kills while teammate Tricia Schary tallied nine.
Senior Jennifer Stout collected 15 digs for the Leopards as well.
The first game of the day against Cal Tech proved to be no contest as the Leopards cruised to victory, 3-0 (30-12, 30-14, 30-12).
All sixteen players on the La Verne roster received playing time and contributed to the win. Junior outside hitter Courtney Rollins and freshman outside hitter Whitney Kranz recorded six and five digs, respectively, to lead the Leopards.
Amanda Thomas led the team with 16 set assists on the match.
Last Friday, La Verne hit the road to square off against SCIAC opponent Redlands at Currier Gym in Redlands.
The Leopards would have to do without All-American blocker Tricia Schary due to injury she suffered earlier in the day unrelated to volleyball.
The absence of their All-American proved to be no deterrent for the Leopards as they hammered host Redlands, 3-0 (30-18, 30-24, 30-23).
Kratochvil recorded 14 kills and 20 digs while Stout recorded 15 kills and 13 digs to pick up the slack.
Sophomores Lauren Friestad and Leslie Flores contributed 17 and 11 digs, respectively.
Now that the La Verne has clinched a berth into the playoffs, they can begin to look forward to more difficult matches in the future, something that has lacked in recent conference play.
“We went to Hayward and Cincinnati and played ranked teams,” Thomas said. “We can step up at any time.”
Schary echoed Thomas’ sentiments with confidence of her own.
“We are more than capable of playing with every one of those teams,” she said.
Flora feels that competition against Cal Lutheran will only help his team in reaching their long term goal.
“It helps prepare us for obtaining our long term goal,” Flora said.
The Leopards wrapped up conference last night and will begin Western Regional play Nov. 11. Times, dates and location are to be determined.
Steven Falls can be reached at sfalls21@msn.com.
