THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Adversity has been part of the start to the 2015 season for the Cal Lutheran women's volleyball team. Tonight, in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) opener, it was no different. Down two sets to none with their backs against the wall, the Regals rallied and went on to win 26-28, 21-25, 26-24, 25-18, 15-9.
Michelle Lawrence finished with a huge double-double that included 21 kills and 17 digs while Jamie Smith earned 60 assists. Allie Eason and Sarah Pappas both reached double figures for kills as well with 15 and 14, respectively. Nicki Tetherow tallied 15 digs and Eason added 12 for a double-double of her own. Defensively, Pappas, Monica Lundgren and Hope Stewart each had three block assists and a pair ended sets for CLU.
CLU maintained an advantage for much of the first set until the Leopards took their first lead of the day at 26-25, going on to steal the first game. The Regals started the second set on a 3-0 run, but a number of ties ensued. Smithused one of her three kills, on three attempts, to get the Regals within one at 16-15, but the Leopards rebuilt a lead late and stole the second as well.
After an intermission that sent the teams into the locker rooms, the tides changed and the Regals showed what they are made of. Lawrencewas instrumental in the transition and Pappas, Dani Gonzalez and Smith all came up with key plays attacking, serving and attacking, respectively. Lawrence used back-to-back kills to put the game in the books after Eason and Lundgrenput up a joint block to fire up the crowd.
In the fourth set, CLU found a real rhythm and built a sizable lead after being knotted 3-3. With Stewart serving, the Violet and Gold reeled off four straight points and later in the match Eason strung together four more. Although the Leopards chipped away at the deficit, the home team staved off any comeback effort, preserving the win at 25-18, sending the teams into a fifth and decisive set.
The final game belonged to the Regals. LV put down the first point and CLU responded with four to take a lead they would not relinquish, earning the 15-9 on a Lundgren-Stewart block.
Cal Lutheran (7-1) heads East to the Emory National Invitational on Sept. 18-19 in Atlanta, Ga. where the Regals will face a very challenging line-up that features American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) No. 1 Emory, No. 2 Calvin, in a re-match of the 2013 NCAA Division III National Championships match and No. 6 Washington-St. Louis.
Box Score: CLU 3, LV 2
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