SportsVolleyball

Spikers look to finish season strong at home

Even with this strong kill by sophomore outside hitter J.R. Gonsalves, the Leopards lost to the Loyola Marymount University Lions in three straight games Tuesday night in Los Angeles, 15-9, 15-9 and 15-9. / photo by Rosie Sinapi
Even with this strong kill by sophomore outside hitter J.R. Gonsalves, the Leopards lost to the Loyola Marymount University Lions in three straight games Tuesday night in Los Angeles, 15-9, 15-9 and 15-9. / photo by Rosie Sinapi

by Echelle Avelar
Staff Writer

Dragging into Tuesday night’s game against the Loyola Marymount University Lions, the University of La Verne Leopards men’s volleyball team was tried by the Lions and sentenced to a shut out game of 3-0 with Loyola winning, 15-9, 15-9, 15-9.

Entering with a 5-19 record, and ranked fourth in Division III, the Leopards played against the 5-15 Lions, ranked sixth in the Mountain Division. The game, at Loyola, was sure to be a good one.

Loyola moved ahead first with a 2-0 lead before senior setter Rich Coles put La Verne on the board, 2-1.

It was not until freshman outside hitter Chris Peterson served and junior Rob Sneider combined with junior outside hitter J.R. Gonsalves, on a double block, to close the lead to 3-2.

Junior middle blocker Jason Flick and freshman outside hitter Chris Sheets paired up for block to tie, 3-3.

Loyola came on strong serving five consecutive times making it 8-3, with a sideout coming from Sneider.

“We let down at the wrong times. We didn’t make the plays we needed,” said Sneider, who leads the team in attacks, and is ranked third in the nation with 805 attacks this season.

“It wasn’t one of my best games,” said Sneider.

Gonsalves made it, 9-4, and the Leopards stayed there as the Lions spiked up their score, 12-4, until the first timeout of the game was called.

Coles was the first to break the strive and pushed the Leopards up, 12-5. Peterson with the kill from Sneider put it, 12-6. Gonsalves bumped it up to 12-7.

Still trailing, Sheets service ace cut La Verne’s deficit to 13-8.

Eight plays later, Sneider and Flick doubled up for the block increasing the score to 13-9.

Loyola did not give La Verne a chance to catch up, six plays later the Lions won the game, 15-9.

Game two had the Leopards go up first, 2-0.

Into the game by 14 plays, the Lions finally got on the board, 2-1. Another 14 plays passed as Loyola developed their score, 4-2.

Coles made it 4-3, then Peterson hulled it a tie, 4-4, with the aid of Gonsalves and Sneider who partnered up for a co-block.

By the time Sheets got the ball, the Lions had already gone up to 8-4, but he raised ULV’s score to 8-6.

Flick, got one in the corner pocket, acing the serve making it, 9-7.

Loyola picked up the pace and drove the ball 12-7, but it was stopped by Peterson’s kill, giving them a sideout. He then stepped up to serve, gaining a point, 12-8.

Gonsalves finalized the Leopard points for the game with help from Sneider’s second solo block of the game, 12-9.

Loyola led the rest of the game, extending its lead and driving the final score of game two to 15-9.

Down 2-0, in the third game, the Leopards fell quickly behind. Loyola was already up by four points, when Sheets helped La Verne win three points, 4-3.

Later, a block by Peterson and Flick made it 8-7.

Loyola’s offense then stole the show, the game, 15-9, and the match, 3-0.

The Leopards play their last match of the season against the San Diego State Aztecs tomorrow night.

The last time these two teams met was for a shut out game where the Aztecs attacked the Leopards, 15-10, 15-9, 15-7.

“The audience had a big affect on us the last game. We hope to take them being the last game, playing at home. We’re going to be pumped,” said Sneider.

“We’re better than them. It’s our house and we’ll take it to them,” said Gonsalves.

Echelle Avelar, Sports Editor
Echelle Avelar
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Rosie Sinapi, Editor in Chief
Rosie Sinapi
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