Leopards chew up Tigers in 4 games.
Campus Times
October 18, 1996
La Verne's Denise Rice spikes the ball past Occidental's Middle Blocker
Mia Solmssen. The Leopards prevailed over the Tigers in a four game match,
3-1.
Boosting its record to 13-8 overall and 5-2 in SCIAC, the women's volleyball
team defeated Occidental Tuesday night for the second time this season,
15-9, 15-4, 15-6, 15-7, improving its chances for a regional playoff spot.
The barrage at the net was led by floor commander Mercury Simonian, a junior
setter, as she strategically placed 42 assists to just about everyone on
the floor.
On the receiving end were the outside hitters, junior Jill Seaton, freshmen
Sarah Henry and Gina Medina, who all found the tempo of the match in their
favor.
"The girls were really able to pull it back together after the second
game. They came up big and got the job done on defense, allowing us many
more opportunities on attacking the ball at the net," said assistant
coach Don Flora.
Unlike the previous matchup against the Tigers, the women were able to shut
down the match without having to go to five games and a match play.
Saturday night in the Supertents, the Leopards took on Division III rival
UC San Diego. The match went in favor of the Tritons, 12-15, 16-14, 8-15,
9-15.
Though the Leopards took only one game from San Diego, on paper and at the
game was a much different story.
At the net, the game was close, with the Leopards having 64 kills compared
to San Diego's 66.
Leading the Leopards were the talents of Seaton, Simonian, Henry and Medina.
This offensive corp exploded for a combined 50 kills, 34 digs and 23 blocks.
Leading the offense was Medina, scoring a triple-double with 12 kills, 13
digs and 10 blocks.
Right beside Medina was the other outside hitter, Seaton, setting the net
on fire with 16 kills and bulldozing the court with 13 digs.
Simonian, dished up 49 assists to her front line in battle. On the defensive
she was able to find five digs of her own in her back pocket.
"Our setter Mercury has the ability to get the ball to the hot hand
on the court. That's her assignment and she does an excellent job at it,"
said head coach Jim Paschal.
He went on to add, "Both teams played a great game. We came up a little
short on the defensive side, getting the digs up, and that very well could
have been the difference in the game."
Henry had 17 kills of her own and did nothing but slam the ball to the feet
of the Tritons.
But the stellar efforts came up short and the Leopards were not quite able
to pull off the upset.
The day before, the women took on the talents of Whittier College en route
to SCIAC's No. 1 spot.
The Leopards looked very impressive, taking the match in three straight
games, 15-2, 16-14, 15-8.
After picking up the pieces from the first game, the Poets rallied and rhymed
their way to a near win over La Verne in the second game. It was just not
meant to be for the Poets as the backup players for La Verne managed to
pull away with the win, 16-14.
The La Verne women have a tough schedule ahead of them this week, starting
tonight in the Supertents when they meet up with Pomona-Pitzer. In the matchup
earlier this season, Pomona-Pitzer took a near win from La Verne, keeping
the Leopards in the No. 3 spot in SCIAC.
"We have a big week in front of us, one that can really move us up
in SCIAC with a couple of big wins. Pomona beat us in the earlier matchup
this year by simply taking a victory from us, and now it's our turn. We
owe them one," said Flora.