Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College volleyball team saw their home contests come to a close Tuesday evening as they fell in straights to the University of La Verne as they saw their senor night spoiled. 

Prior to the game Head Coach Chris Duarte McDermott recognized his two seniors, which included Katie Heard (La Habra, Calif.) and Malia Valdivieso (Chula Vista, Calif.).

With the loss the Poets drop to 8-16, 6-9 SCIAC, while La Verne improves to 20-3, 12-2 SCIAC.

La Verne came out of the gates quickly in the first set hitting .265 going in front 4-1 and then 11-4.  Whittier fought back though to pull within two 19-17 in large part to an 8-2 run capped off with a block up front by Rebecca Slattery (Los Altos, Calif.) and Alexis Mills (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) followed by a service ace by freshman McKenzie Rosendale (Temecula, Calif.). 

But the comeback would come up short as La Verne would rally themselves to win six of the next eight points to win 25-19 en route to going in front 1-0.

In the second however the Poets found their spark in freshman Olive Anagu (Culver City, Calif.) who brought the Poet faithful to their feet helping them go in front 6-1 and then 13-8 with some big kills from the outside.  But the Leos would fight back to win 9 of the next 10 points to go in front for the first time 17-14, a lead they would not relinquish.  Whittier would pull within one twice more and would get kills from Haley Whyte (Mission Viejo, Calif.) and Anagu but it wouldn't be enough as ULV would hold on for the 25-19 second set putting WC in a hole 2-0.

In the third it was all La Verne as they would storm out in front 13-2 and then 23-7 completing the sweep on the evening 25-11. 

Slattery led the offense with eight kills to go with five block assists.  Casie Lowden (Glendora, Calif.) was also held to just seven kills but picked up 10 digs.  Jennifer Estrada (Pasadena, Calif.) led the back row with 14 digs, while Torrey Mitsunaga (Culver City, Calif.) had 23 assists.  Mills despite having just one kill managed to pick up four block assists, while Whyte picked up 7.5 points with six kills, a solo block and a block assist.

For La Verne, Brittany Yaxley led all scorers with 15 kills on 32 attempts for a .344 hitting percentage.  She was joined by Ashlyn Cross who had nine kills on 18 attempts to go with a match high 19 digs.                

Whittier has one game remaining on their schedule as they travel to Thousand Oaks, Calif. to take on the Regals of Cal Lutheran University this Saturday, November 1 beginning at 6:00pm.