LA VERNE, CA — Senior
Lauren Gott highlighted the final day of the Whittier Invitational, surpassing 1,000 career kills.
The returning All-American came into Saturday's slate needing just one kill to reach the milestone and finished with 13. Gott moves up to number eight in the La Verne record books with 1,012 career kills, two spots behind La Verne Head Coach Dr. Randi Taylor-Toomay, who ended her playing career with 1271 kills. Gott added 18 digs and two aces.
Game 1: Pacific Lutheran 3, No. 11 La Verne 2
Alanna Jones had a strong performance, totaling 12 kills and five blocks. Abigail Montana led the Leopards with nine blocks, and Zacky Coaston added seven. Allison Mason ended with nine kills, three blocks, and an ace.
The Lutes and Leopards battled back-and-forth in the first set, with neither team able to gain more than a one or two point advantage. The squad finished even on kills, attacking errors, and blocks, but the Lutes took the set, 27-25.
The Leopards came out strong and were more consistent in the second with five aces, 11 kills, and only three attacking errors, and evened the match with a commanding 25-14 set win.
The Lutes returned the heat in the third with ten kills and only four errors. The Lutes held the Leopards to a negative hitting percentage to take the set 25-16.
In the fourth set, the Leopards got back to form and dominated with ten kills and only four errors. The Lutes hit in the negative, and the Leopards jumped ahead with a big lead and took the set 25-12.
The final set reflected the first, with back-and-forth action and neither team able to gain significant momentum. The Leopards finished with 10 kills to the Lutes' seven, and both teams limited attacking errors. Service errors proved to be the difference in the frame as the Lutes separated themselves and took the set 15-12.
Game 2: No. 19 Batten University 3, No. 11 La Verne 0
The Leopards ended the tournament with a 3-0 set back to the No. 19-ranked Batten University Marlins, 3-0, Saturday evening.
Gott led the Leopards with eight kills, 16 digs, and two aces.
Emma Yogan, who came off the bench, was right behind her and brought a strong presence to the court. Yogan ended with seven kills and eight digs.
Montana led the Leopards with six blocks, and Coaston added five and an ace.
Statistically, all three sets were close in hitting percentages, blocks, and aces. In the first set, the Marlins had 13 kills and five errors to the Leopards' 10 kills and seven errors. It was a battle to the end, with the Marlins winning 25-22.
In the second set, the Leopards produced most of their aces, but the Marlins still led with 15 kills to the Leopards' 10. The score stayed close until the end, when the Marlins took the four-point lead they built and put away the second set 25-21.
The Leopards featured new pin hitters in the third set. Freshman
Emma Read, sophomore
Sophia-Alessandra Montano, and junior transfer
Camryn Muuss gave a different look and energy. The Marlins still capitalized on offense and wrapped up this ranked matchup in the third, 25-22
The Leopards move to 3-4 overall.
Next Game
La Verne has a break next week and then opens SCIAC play on the road when they take on the Whittier College Poets on Wednesday, September 23, at 7 p.m.
