On the opening day of the Cal Lu Invitational, Celt Volleyball had their hands full with two tough matches against #24 La Verne and Chapman. Despite fighting for each point scored, the Celts fell in both matches to teams they've never matched up before.
La Verne
In a volleyball match that took place on September 15, 2023, the St. Thomas (Tex.) team faced off against the #24-ranked La Verne team at Gilbert Arena in Thousand Oaks, California. The match ended with La Verne emerging victorious in straight sets, winning 25-17, 25-20, 25-9.
Here's a recap of the match:
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La Verne (8-0, 0-0 SCIAC) displayed a strong performance throughout the match, dominating all three sets.
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St. Thomas (Tex.) (5-3, 0-0 SCAC) struggled to find their rhythm, and La Verne's solid play made it difficult for them to mount a comeback.
Top Three Kill Leaders for St. Thomas (Tex.):
- Audrey Cataline: Audrey had 5 kills in the match and contributed with 1 block and 9 digs, totaling 6.5 points.
- Laynee Beam: Laynee secured 3 kills with a hitting percentage of 0.375. She also added 2 blocks and 2 assists for a total of 4 points.
- Trinity Atkins: Trinity contributed 4 kills and 2 digs, earning 4.0 points for the team.
Despite their best efforts, St. Thomas (Tex.) couldn't match La Verne's performance, and La Verne took home the victory in a convincing fashion.
Chapman
In a hard-fought volleyball match on September 15, 2023, St. Thomas (Tex.) took on Chapman at Gilbert Arena in Thousand Oaks, California. Despite a valiant effort from both teams, Chapman emerged as the victor, winning the match 3-1 with set scores of 23-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-21.
Here's a recap of the match:
- St. Thomas (Tex.) put up a strong fight, taking the first set 25-23. However, Chapman rebounded in the following sets to secure the win.
Top Three Kill Leaders for St. Thomas (Tex.):
- Audrey Cataline: Audrey had a standout performance, leading her team with 12 kills. She also contributed with 2 aces, 13 digs, and 1 block, totaling 14.5 points.
- Trinity Atkins: Trinity was a significant contributor with 10 kills and 2 digs, earning 10.5 points for her team.
- Karrington Kays: Karrington had an impressive showing, securing 10 kills with a hitting percentage of 0.391. She also contributed 5 blocks and 2.5 points.
Despite the strong individual performances from St. Thomas (Tex.) players, Chapman's overall team effort and consistency allowed them to secure the victory in four sets.
This match dropped St. Thomas (Tex.) record to 5-4 on the season.
Up next, Celts face the host school Cal Lutheran in the final match of the invitational. Follow ustcelts.com for all scores and updates.
