LOS ANGELES, Calif. (September, 11, 2007) - Occidental hosted the 2006 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Champion La Verne Leopards tonight at Rush Gymnasium for the first SCIAC contest of the season.

The Leopards got the best of the Tigers in three games (30-16, 30-16, 30-19).

Occidental showed a lot of heart with a number of phenomenal rallies in the second and third games of the night.

Kathryn Bockmon is quickly becoming a pertinent player for the Tigers as she led the team with six kills in her first SCIAC match. Lehela Cleveland has also been fun to watch in the early going as she recorded four kills.

Sophomore setter Jaime Nikami finished with 15 assists and added two service aces. Nikami and Emily Wagner each turned in 10-dig performances while Ashley Rosenbaum again led the defense with two solo blocks.

For the Leopards Crista Jones tallied 10 kills and Brianna Gonzales had eight. Chelsea Sleight finished with six service aces. Emily James and Yesenia Lopez each had eight assists and Whitney Kranz led all players with 12 digs.

La Verne improved to 3-2 overall, 1-0 SCIAC while Occidental drops to 1-2, 0-1 SCIAC on the season.

Oxy will take the court again tomorrow night when they travel to Chapman University for a 7:30 p.m. non-conference match.