Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

LA VERNE, Calif. – After going 7-2 in non-conference play, the Whittier College volleyball team opened up Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play Friday night but were swept by the Leopards 25-19, 25-14, 25-21.

Each set started off closely with both teams trading points but the Leos managed to push out in front midway through each.  ULV used a 7-1 run in the first set to take a 16-11 lead before holding on to win 25-19. 

Whittier bounced back in the second to go in front quickly 4-1, behind two kills and an ace from Casie Lowden (Glendora, Calif.) but the Leos came back to regain control with seven unanswered.  Whittier battled back to pull within four at 14-10 but ULV would put together another run of six straight that propelled them to the second set victory putting WC in a hole.

The Purple & Gold hung tough in the third set.  The Leopards went out in front 16-10 but WC pulled within two at 21-19 after an Alexis Mills (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) kill and then again at 23-21 after a Lowden kill, but a kill by Destinee Sales and an attacking error by the Poets would clinch the victory for ULV down the stretch.

Lowden led the Poets with nine kills, Rebecca Slattery (Los Altos, Calif.) had seven, Torrey Mitsunaga (Culver City, Calif.) finished with 14 assists and Jennifer Estrada (Pasadena, Calif.) totaled 10 digs in the backrow.    

Whittier returns to the court this Tuesday, September 22 as they host Cal Lutheran University beginning at 7:30pm.