Regals Volleyball
Regals Volleyball has won 20 straight conference matches
The Regals volleyball team swept the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas on Sept. 26. The Regals have been strong on their home court, going 4-1 at Gilbert Arena as they headed into Friday’s game. Cal Lutheran won all three sets in the match on its home court in Gilbert Arena.
According to CLUsports.com, the Regals are the second ranked team in the nation while the Athenas are ranked 19th nationally.
Excitement garnered before the game as music played to get the team and audience pumped for the match. Kellee Roesel, head coach, felt her team was ready for this match.
Photo by Charlotte Luisa – Staff Photographer
“I’m hoping they perform well. I’m confident with my group. . .They’ve played teams that are just as good if not better and they were able to win those matches so we’ll see,” Roesel said. “[We’re expecting] a really good match. CMS is good, they’re young, they’re big and really well coached. They’re going to give us everything we can handle, that’s for sure.”
The Regals wasted no time in showing the other team what they were capable of. Sophomore middle blocker Sarah Pappas had five kills in the first set, and the rest of the set went by smoothly for the Regals. Sophomore libero Nicki Tethero and senior setter Jena Chavez were just a couple of the players that held it down for the Regals defense. They won the set 25 to 18.
The second set was shakier than the first because neither team could hold the lead for very long. That was when freshman outside hitter Hope Stewart came in with three consecutive kills, contributing to the Regals’ 25-19 victory.
“We didn’t really worry about the other side. We just wanted to play our game,” Stewart said.
The closest set of the night was the last one. Pappas, sophomore middle blocker Dianna Rohrer and junior right side hitter Pua Mo’okini-Oliveira had consistent blocks throughout the set. Stewart led the offense with 13 kills. The set was very closely contested, but the Regals took it 27 to 25.
The entire team contributed to the win and Coach Roesel commented after the game that it was a very good match.
Sophomore outside hitter Michelle Lawrence was tied for second on the team with nine kills in the game.
“Claremont proved that they could play with us. Next time we’re in their gym, so we need to work even harder and get better so we’re ready for that,” Lawrence said.
The crowd was very excited as this close match was coming to an end. Stomping on the bleachers and cheering for the girls really showed their school spirit.
“Close matches like that, it definitely helps to hear them [the crowd] cheer like that for us,” Stewart said.
The team played the defense and offense that they prepared for during practice.
“We ran our middles consistently and they weren’t ready for that,” Lawrence said. “I would say it was a team win no matter what.”
According to CLUsports.com, the Regals extended their Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win-streak to 20 matches. The team’s season continues up until November. There are six home games left and admission is free.
Isabel Kirsch
Staff Writer
Published October 1, 2014