Volleyball

Showdown Looming for Undefeated SCIAC Volleyball Teams; La Verne Travels to Cal Lutheran Tuesday
October 1, 2006

Courtesy University of La Verne Sports Information Office

The University of La Verne women's volleyball team travels to Thousand Oaks on Tuesday to face Cal Lutheran University on Tuesday in a showdown of undefeated teams in the SCIAC Conference.

La Verne (15-0, 5-0 SCIAC) is ranked #3 nationally in the latest AVCA Top 25 Poll and off to its best start since its 2001 national championship season. The Leopards have swept all but one opponent in the 2006 campaign.

Cal Lutheran (9-2, 5-0 SCIAC) is riding a seven-match win streak, earning sweeps in its last six victories. The Regals also feature senior middle blocker Mo Coverdale, a First Team All-America selection in 2005. Coverdale led the nation in hitting percentage last season and tops the SCIAC in hitting percentage thus far in 2006.

Both teams split the regular season series a year ago as each shared the SCIAC Conference title last season with identical 13-1 league records.

Cal Lu's win over La Verne in Thousand Oaks last season ended the Leopards' 56-match win streak in conference play. The Leopards responded with a consecutive wins over Cal Lutheran in the regular-season finale and in the tiebreaker to earn the SCIAC automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament en route to a NCAA 3rd place finish.

The two teams will meet for a second time on Oct. 27 in La Verne.