La Verne Closes Out Season With Sweep Over Bulldogs

The University of La Verne concluded its 2011 campaign on a winning note as it administered a 3-0 sweep over the University of Redlands in SCIAC volleyball action Tuesday night in the regular season finale at Currier Gymnasium in Redlands.

Set scores were 25-21, 25-22, 25-23.

The match opened with a competitive battle in the first set which saw the two teams tied at 17 before the Leopards were able to separate in the late stages.  Leading 22-21, La Verne took the next three points to prevail 25-21.

The second stanza was very similar to the first, with La Verne capturing an early lead only to see the Bulldogs (3-23, 2-12 SCIAC) rally back, eventually knotting the contest at 9-9 and 16-16.  The second stanza remained a standoff at 22-all before La Verne a Catie Logan kill sparked a 3-0 run to give the Leos a 25-22 set triumph and a 2-0 set advantage.

In the third set, La Verne grabbed an early lead and eventually widened the gap with a 21-13 cushion.  Just when the Leos looked to cruise into victory, back came the Bulldogs who would go on a 9-1 run to draw even at 22-22.  But once again, the Leopards would turn back Redlands, as La Verne claimed the next two points for a 24-22 lead, and would seal the win two points later to prevail 25-23.

The Leopards held UR to a .070 hitting clip for the evening while collecting 63 digs on the night.  Logan finished with 12 kills while Kendall Kraiss totaled 8 kills, 21 assists and 12 digs in the win.  Tiffany Johnstone and Randi Taylor-Toomay recorded 9 and 8 kills, respectively.  Morgan Donohue led the Leos in digs with 16 with senior Mika Chan posting 8 digs in her final match as a Leopard.

La Verne concludes the 2011 season with a 17-12 overall record and a 7-7 mark in conference play.