Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

LA VERNE, Calif. – The Whittier College volleyball team for the first time in Whittier College History has made the SCIAC Post-Season tournament sweeping the University of La Verne 25-13, 28-26, 25-23.

Whittier now runs their record to 12-17, 7-6 in SCIAC, while La Verne drops to 16-12, 6-7 SCIAC.  This record for Whittier is their best since 1999 when they went 13-15 and made the post-season tournament. 

They achieved the No. 4 seed in playoffs and will travel to Thousand Oaks, Calif. to take on the Regals of Cal Lutheran University on Thursday, November 3 with the time to be announced. 

On an evening full of determination and grit the lady Poets came away with a hard fought victory led by sophomore Alayna Rigo who tallied a double double with a game high 19 kills and 13 digs. 

In game one the Poets jumped out to an 11-5 lead thanks to Rigo who connected on back to back to back service aces that proved to be the difference as Whittier maintained that lead throughout the game.

In game two, the points went back and forth with no one team, taking a substantial lead.  The Whittier defense in the back row was rock solid holding Leopard kill leader Randi Taylor-Toomay to only 7 kills for a .024 hitting percentage. 

Lindsey Kish and Alessandra Rios led the back row in digs with 12 each, while Alyssa Acosta chipped in with 10 helping Whittier stay in game two until Lauren Whiteman took control in the end to solidify the 28-26 win finishing the match with eight kills. 

In game three, the points continued to go back and forth as both teams continued to fight but junior transfer outside hitter Alyssa Sialaris emerged as she took over finishing with 14 kills on 38 attempts for a .237 hitting percentage to go along with six digs.

Rios continued to remain successful up front as she dished out a game high 36 assists.

Whittier looks to get revenge on the Regals from Cal Lutheran University from their 3-2 and 3-0 losses earlier this season.  Maybe the third time's the charm, but Whittier travels to Thousand Oaks, Calif. on Thursday, November 3 for the opening of the SCIAC Post-Season Tournament with the time to be announced.

SCIAC Playoffs

No. 1 Cal Lutheran       vs.   No. 4 Whittier

No. 2 Claremont-M-S   vs.    No. 3 Occidental