LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The No. 5 Cal Lutheran women's volleyball team competed in its second to last road match of the season against Occidental and took the match 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 29-27) over the Tigers on Saturday evening. With the win, the Regals sit in first place in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) with a half-game lead over La Verne and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
CLU started the first set ahead by getting the first two points. Occidental proved to be a difficult opponent for the Regals pushing points across the net every other point. After the Tigers went ahead 9-7, CLU had a four-point scoring run with Amanda Roberts on service, taking the lead 11-9. The set continued to be all tied up until the Regals took and kept the lead until the end with a nine to one scoring drive, winning the set 25-20.
The second set started with the Regals taking 18 of the first 22 points scored, making the score 18-4 CLU. Eight of which were scored consecutively with Roberts behind the back line again, ending that run with two service aces. The Tigers gained some ground be picking up five points in a row but it was not enough to overcome the Regals lead and they put the set away 25-14.
Occidental took the first two points of the third and final set, but it did not last as the Regals scored six points to the Tigers two, making the score 6-4. The Tigers regained the lead after four errors on the Regals side putting the score at 10-7. The set was very close after that with each side trading points back and forth. CLU was able to pull ahead and score four points in a row with Dani Gonzalez on service putting the score at 23-20. The Tigers would not give up and were able to grab enough points for the two-point rule to come into effect and pushed the set past the usual 25. The Regals fought in the last few points to come out ahead by two before the Tigers could score and pulled out the set 29-27.
Hope Stewart and Michelle Lawrence matched kills at 11, while also taking six and five digs, respectively. Sarah Pappas followed next in the books with nine kills of her own. Roberts ended the day with four kills, 11 digs and four service aces, the highest in the match. Jamie Smith had 27 assists and Nicki Tetherow dug 12 shots from the Tigers offense.
Cal Lutheran (21-4, 12-2 SCIAC) will host the La Verne Leopards (20-4, 11-2 SCIAC) on Oct. 25 at 7:00 p.m. for Senior Night in hopes of solidifying the first place spot in SCIAC.
Box Score: CLU 3, OXY 0
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