Editorโs Note: This article has been translated into Spanish by El Eco Copy Editor Margarita Lievanos. You can find the Spanish versionย here.
The California Lutheran University Regals volleyball team (16-5, 9-4 conference) took a three-set loss against the No. 1 nationally ranked University of La Verne Leopards (22-0, 13-0 conference) last Tuesday night. The Leopards continued their undefeated season, beating the Regals 25-17, 25-16, and 25-16.
Junior middle blocker Aby Tibesar said the team had their strong moments in the game but could have performed better overall.
โItโs just a tough game. We have to be grateful for the opportunity, and we were,โ Tibesar said. โI think we just have to step up more in that moment when we get those opportunities.โ
The first set started with three kills and a block from the Leopards before the Regals were able to score on their opponentโs attack error. With the Leopards leading 4-1, this three point deficit was the slimmest margin of the game. Unable to catch up, the Regals trailed for the entirety of the set and lost 25-17.
First-year middle blocker Madeline Magnani said La Verne was โplaying really good offense and defense,โ but the Regals still had their “pockets” of kills.
Tibesar said La Verne utilized their senior outside hitter Mya Ray, alongside some other outside hitters. Tibesar said that because the Leopardsโ right sides werenโt as effective, the Regals decided to put their focus on Ray.
โThis game, it was going to be the middles and Mya [Ray] mainly, and the outsides,โ Tibesar said. โI mean, when the right sides got their opportunity, they didnโt score, which we knew was going to happen.โ
The Regals held the lead for nearly half the second set, with sophomore outside hitter Kaylee Clayton recording three kills and a service ace to secure this advantage. The Leopards quickly flipped the script and tied the score at 11-11 before overtaking the Regals and leading for the rest of the set.
Despite the loss, Associate Head Coach Alec Bennett said the Regals played well, and that La Verne is ranked No. 1 in the nation for a reason.
โWe had pockets where we were in it, we were up,โ Bennett said. โI feel like we were able to compete in the middle of games, but starting and closing out games is an area that weโre going to just focus on in practice.โ
The Regals offense was in full swing in the third set with two kills coming from junior middle blocker Tarin Rueckert. However, La Verne came back and took the third set, adding to their undefeated season record.
Bennett said this is an important part of the season, with the Regals having played the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas recently, who are also ranked.
โItโs hard playing against a really good team,โ Bennett said. โTheyโre going to get their kills, right? Weโre going to make our mistakes, but how can we respond to that failure, you know?โ
Bennett also gave credit to the bench for keeping the mood light.
โWe do a pretty good job of trying to keep it loose, especially our bench,โ Bennett said. โWeโre always, you know, dancing on the bench, talking to them, trying to keep a positive spirit because itโs hard playing against a really good team.โ
On Friday, Oct. 31, the Regals traveled to face the University of Redlands Bulldogs, where they won 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-14, 25-10). The following day, Saturday, Nov. 1, the Regals picked up another conference win, defeating the Occidental College Tigers 3-0 (25-9, 25-17, 25-22) at home.
Next up, the Regals will face the Chapman University Panthers in an away matchup on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.
