Leopards' sights set on national title

by Matt Paulson
Sports Editor

In preparation for this weekend's national tournament, the University of La Verne men's volleyball team dropped its last two regular season matches last weekend to Cal State Northridge (30-12, 30-18, 30-18) and California Baptist University (30-18, 30-19, 30-23).

The No. 3 ranked National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Lancers rode their gross height advantage, as their team hitting percentage of .409 paled ULV's .110 on the evening.

Led by senior Ivan Topchiysky's 16 kills, the staggering Lancer hitting percentage was aided by 6-foot-10-inch Shaun Dyk's 10 kills.

"They just hit over us a few times," said associate head coach Jack Coberly.

The previous evening, ULV traveled to Cal State Northridge to face the No. 8 ranked, Division I Matadors.

From the beginning of the match, the Matadors waved their figurative red flag furiously, while ULV answered, wielding a white flag of surrender, losing, 30-12, 30-18 and 30-18.

Junior Scott Arneson put away 14 kills on ULV for a hitting percentage of .458.

Overall, the predominantly second string Matador line-up boasted a team percentage of .398, while holding ULV flaccid, with a team total of .011.

"We weren't trying to keep the ball in play," said senior middle blocker and co-captain Nate Silva. "We were trying to put balls away, which led to a lot of unforced errors."

"We had a severe lack of heart," said senior middle blocker and co-captain Dave Engle. "We just weren't there mentally at all. No one really showed up."

The main highlights for ULV were senior Josh Miller, with six kills, and sophomore Dwayne Wibeto and freshman Matt Cornell with five kills apiece.

"None of the teams we'll see this weekend are the caliber of either of these teams," said Miller, outside hitter.

ULV begins play today in the Molten Division III national tournament-Division III's version of the final four-at Juniata College in Huntington, Penn.

Securing the third seed, the Leopards' (11-16) first match is at 5:30 p.m. at Memorial Gymnasium against the second-ranked Springfield College (20-7) of Massachusetts.

Springfield received the bid to the national tournament after losing to Juniata College in the finals of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. Because Juniata had already been handed a bid as tournament host, Springfield was given a spot as EIVA runner-up.

The Pride are seeking their unprecedented third-straight title. As a total, they hold three Molten Championships, which is more than any other school in the nation.

During its league play, Springfield defeated Vassar College three times (3-0, 3-0, 3-1). Vassar, on March 12, beat ULV, 3-0 in the Supertents.

"We were a lot stronger team than Vassar," Jack Coberly said. "We didn't play to our potential."

"I see weaknesses in Springfield," Jack Coberly said. "When you come in as defending champion, you come in complacent. They're thinking it's just going to kind of happen for them."

Jack Coberly also said that Springfield has deflated expectations of the way ULV can play.

"If we come out strong, I think it's going to be demoralizing," he said.

The main factor in ULV's bid to win is slowing down Springfield's two left-side hitters, which are Springfield's most prominent strengths, Morgan Coberly said.

But, overall, the Leopards like their chances to beat Springfield, especially after the Pride upset top-ranked ULV in last year's national championship.

"I'm feeling confident because we want revenge," said senior opposite Jay Chapman. "It'll rectify last year's loss."

"It's like exorcising the demons of last year," Morgan Coberly said.

"It's our match to lose," Jack Coberly said.

ULV has spent the last few weeks in preparation for the national tournament. This has centered mainly on mental exercises.

"The guys are mentally burnt out," Jack Coberly said. "The mental side is just like the physical side. You have to train it."

Training has involved "putting on a positive demeanor on the court," Jack Coberly said.

Some other exercises include affirmation and visualization tactics.

Another issue ULV has faced is trust, which is due to the continuous shifting of positions with the absence of senior captain Scott Alley, Morgan Coberly said.

In the other final four match, No. 1 seeded, and favorite to win, Juniata (16-7) faces No. 4 seeded Stevens Institute of Technology (26-8) of Hoboken, N.J., at 8 p.m.

Juniata has been ranked atop Division III since defeating last year's national champion, Springfield, in late January.

After receiving their automatic bid as host, the Eagles topped the EIVA, beating Springfield in the finals.

Juniata's opponent, the Ducks of Stevens Tech, won the North Eastern Collegiate Volleyball Association title after ousting Eastern Mennonite, 3-2.

Although both Jack and Morgan Coberly declare Juniata as the favorite, they feel confident of their chances to beat the Eagles if ULV is able to emerge victorious from its semifinal match.

"If we get into the finals against Juniata, we have a really good chance," Jack Coberly said.

"We have nothing to lose," Morgan Coberly said.

Juniata, however, does.

The Eagles have the immense pressure of playing in front their home fans as the obvious tournament favorite.

Compounding this pressure is Juniata's lack of experience in the final four. The Eagles have not made an appearance at the event since 1999, one year after they won it.

Morgan Coberly said, "No one expects us to win, except ourselves."