The California Lutheran University volleyball team won two games to clinch the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Co-Championship Title. First, they faced off against La Verne Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.

Seniors Michelle Lawrence, Sarah Pappas, Monica Lundgren, Nicki Tetherow, Dianna Rohrer and Hannah Nua were recognized for their contributions as they suited up for senior night.

“I think the leadership of the six seniors is definitely the strongest I have ever encountered in my life, and it has been great to play right behind them,” junior middle back Molly Holloway said.

With their strong senior leadership, the Regals walked away with a 3-0 win.

The first set was a back and forth battle from the start, but the Regals settled in and separated themselves from the Leopards. The Regals won the first set 25-14 with 10 kills spread out amongst five Regals and a pair of aces from junior outside hitter Hope Stewart.

They continued their momentum into the second set with a quick 10-2 lead forcing the Leopards to call a timeout. That dominance was sustained through the set with an added 16 kills. The Regals won the set 25-9.

The third set started off point for point until the Regals scored three straight points to make the score 7-4. The Leopards kept battling until late into the final set, but the Regals were able to finish out the win. The final score was 25-17 Cal Lutheran.

According to Tetherow, the game plan for senior night was to have fun and enjoy the time they have left on the court, but also stay focused.

This game plan worked as it led them to a big win. Lawrence, a senior outside hitter, led the Regals with 11 kills, six digs and five blocks. Pappas, a senior middle back, and sophomore outside hitter Amanda Roberts followed with 10 kills apiece. Tetherow, a senior libero, finished with 15 digs for the Regals defense.

“They are all such different personalities,” Head Coach Kellee Roesel said. “It is one of the coolest things in sport, is you bring six kids from different areas that are all pretty different people and bring them into a sport they love and they all become very similar.”

The win for the seniors was celebrated, but the Regals were already preparing for their final regular season game.

“We are going to go into practices working hard, give it 110 percent and take it point by point in the next match. Then carry that on into postseason,” Tetherow said.

On Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. the Regals completed their regular season schedule with a win against Pomona-Pitzer College. This game allowed them to clinch the SCIAC Championship for the 13th title in school history.

Cal Lutheran won 3-1 in a close match up with the Sagehens. The first set went back and forth until late in the set when the Regals fought them off for a tight 25-21 win. The second set ended in the same score, but the Sagehens were on the winning side, the Regals trailed nearly the whole set.

Holloway and Tetherow provided several service aces to help the Regals win the third set 25-13. Then the Regals finished out the game with a 25-17 win in the final set.

Lundgren, a senior outside hitter, racked up her season high of 15 kills against Pomona.

Cal Lutheran hosts Pomona again Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. to start off the SCIAC Postseason Tournament. The University of La Verne and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College are also competing. The winner of the tournament gets an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Tournament.

Makenna Pellerin
Staff Writer