Volleyball returns home to clinch SCIAC berth

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University volleyball team returned home and clinched a repeat berth in the SCIAC postseason tournament with four-set victory (25-21, 21-25, 25-22, 25-18) over visiting University of La Verne at Hutton Center. The Chapman win on Friday night combined with a Whittier loss guarantees the Panthers cannot finish worse than fourth in the SCIAC standings (Occidental College is ineligible for qualification) with four matches remaining.

Playing at Hutton for the first time in 20 days, Chapman (16-8 overall, 9-3 SCIAC) also remained unbeaten on its home floor in 2013, winning for the seventh straight time dating back to last season.

A big third set from junior MB Kat Marusich helped the Panthers turn the tide in the swing set, earning five of her 12 kills to help Chapman win 25-22. Junior MB Val Geiger then slammed the door on La Verne (6-22 overall, 3-10 SCIAC) with three kills and two blocks in the fourth and final set as Chapman won 25-18. Geiger finished with 18 kills to give her 429 this season – just 11 kills shy of Kate Ferrin's single-season Chapman record of 440 kills set in 2011.

Five different Panthers reached double figures in digs, led by senior Carleigh Mueller's 14 in the match. Senior S Corrine Ostrovsky added to her all-time Chapman record with 43 assists.

For the Leopards, Brittany Yaxley led the team with 14 kills and 17 digs.

With a sub-.500 record over its last three away matches (2-3), Chapman will travel to Whittier tomorrow at 6 p.m. before returning home Tuesday to face first-place and Division III's No. 3-ranked Cal Lutheran.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wvball/2013-14/boxscores/20131025_6ap3.xml

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