The women’s volleyball team flexed its muscles in total domination and showed why they are the No. 5 ranked team in Division III, routing Whittier, 3-0, in 54 minutes Tuesday night at the Supertents.
In the match, the mighty Leopards swept the three games with scores of 30-17, 30-14 and 30-21 holding the Poets to a negative 30 hitting percentage and recording 51 total team kills in the match.
“Tonight was a good evening to train,” head coach Don Flora said. “It was good to get some of our younger players the experience they need as we head into the heart of our season.”
Offensively the Leopards were led by a quartet of players with Amy Kratochvil leading the pack with nine kills.
Kratochvil was also named the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference athlete of the week for her performance at the La Verne Invitational, where she also was awarded the tournament’s most valuable player.
Senior libero Jennifer Stout was right behind her with eight and Adele Jones and Mandy Sedia each with seven kills respectively.
“I think we were real focused and did what we had to do,” Amanda Thomas said. “As a team we did all the little things in order to get the victory.”
The victory improves the Leopards record to 24-3 overall and 9-0 in conference play on the season with upcoming SCIAC matches this weekend.
The victory coupled with a few Cal State Hayward losses, puts the Leopards and Hayward on a collision course for the upcoming Western Regional Championships.
The victory also continues the Leopards record-setting unbeaten SCIAC streak of 45 matches which dates back to October 2000 and puts them on the fast track to claiming their fifth straight SCIAC title.
“No matter who the opponent is we play our game,” Kratochvil said. “We want to play ULV volleyball and keep up the tradition.”
The match, which only took 54 minutes was a clinic of sorts as the Leopards capitalized on numerous mistakes and miscues from Whittier College and put the match away each and every game.
“I guess as a team we do not consider any team to be a weak opponent,” Thomas said. “We consider it as a stepping stone to our main goal, which is regionals and beyond.”
The Leopards have matches tonight against Redlands in Redlands and a double-header tomorrow against Cal Tech and Pomona-Pitzer in the Supertents.
“We know what our goals ar e and what we need to work hard for,” Kratochvil said. “As a team we just have to play hard each and every game and do what we have to do.”
Jonathan Corral can be reached at jcorral@ulv.edu.