LA VERNE, Calif. (Mar. 16, 2025) – Senior Haley Kivett (Beaverton, Ore. / Southridge) of the Whittier College women's water polo team delivered an outstanding seven-point performance behind three goals and four assists as the Poets fell in a hard-fought battle to La Verne, 13-11, on the road.

Kivett's offensive manuevering kept the Poets in contention throughout the tightly contested SCIAC matchup. Junior Alexandra Haluska (Brea, Calif. / Brea Olinda Fullerton College) and talented sophomore transfer Kayla Arias (Brea, Calif. / Brea Olinda / Fullerton College) each added three goals, while Emily Flores (Newbury Park, Calif. / Newbury Park) and Paula Fernandez (Barcelona, Spain / Westcliff University) chipped in one apiece to round out a balanced attack for the visiting Poets.  Arias additionally drew six of the 14 exclusions that went against La Verne, highlighting a physical battle between both sides.

The Poets stayed neck-and-neck with the Leopards, entering the fourth quarter tied at eight goals apiece. Despite their relentless effort to seize momentum, La Verne capitalized on key opportunities down the stretch to edge ahead and close out the game. In goal, Candace Tezak (La Habra, Calif. / La Habra / Fullerton College) recorded four saves to anchor Whittier defensively, but the visitors ultimately couldn't overcome a late surge from a tough Leopards squad.

Head Coach Preslav Djippov and the Poets will be back in action on Wednesday night, Mar. 19 when they host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges at 7 p.m.
 

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