THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (Sept. 11, 2010) – The Tigers returned to California Lutheran University for the final day of the Cal-Lu-Fornia Invitational to face Chapman University and Willamette University.  After putting together a complete performance in a win against George Fox less than 24 hours ago, the Black and Orange showed that great balance again in two straight sets win that pushed the Tigers to a 3-1 start.

The opening match of the day pitted the Tigers against the Panthers from Chapman University.  Last season the Panthers handed the Tigers two losses en route to an NCAA tournament berth, and this season they already had a five set win over nationally ranked Pacific Lutheran. 

The Black and Orange came out on fire in the opening set, stretching the lead to as large as eight midway through the set, as Logan Boyer-Hayse, Stephanie Gann and Alyssa Mort stretched the offense keeping the Chapman defense off balance with 11 combined kills as Oxy took the opening set 25-18.  The attack balance continued, as the Tigers hit .314 in the second set, helping Oxy take the closest set of the match by the final score of 25-19.    

The third set was highlighted with some long rallies, forced by the stellar defense of Madyson Cassidy (19 digs) and Kathryn Bockmon (10 digs), as the Black and Orange wore Chapman (5-3) down, securing a three set win by the final scores of 25-18, 25-19, 25-17.

Boyer-Hayse led all attackers with 16 kills as she notched her second double double of the season, recording 10 digs and 5 stuff blocks.  Gann had her third straight double digit kill effort with 11 and Mort finished with a 0.412 kill efficiency (9 kills – 2 hitting errors – 17 attempts) to lead all players.

Jessie Altman led both teams with 38 assists.

In the final match of the day, it was Oxy that had to battle back against a very hot squad, as the Bearcats from Willamette jumped ahead 14-6 start the match.

Showing a poise that was not there when they fell behind against UC Santa Cruz to start the tournament, the Tigers this time rode out the fast start and slowly climbed back in the set, tying the set at 19 apiece before stealing a 25-22 win.  The Bearcats jumped out quickly again in the second set, this time up 10-4 before the Black and Orange found its footing and won a second set nail biter.

 The third set was all Tigers, as they raced to a18-6 lead on the way to their third straight sweep of the season.  In the final set, freshman Hana Hunt made her Oxy college debut, recording one dig as she helped her squad to a 25-22, 25-22, 25-16 win over Willamette (4-3)

Gann once again was a focal point of Tiger attack, finishing with a team high 13 kills, extending her double digit streak to four straight matches.  But the defense gave Oxy the chance it needed to steal this victory, as four players reached double digits, led by Cassidy with 14 digs to go along with 11 for Clare Bolton and 10 apiece for Bockmon and Boyer-Hayse.

Aly Fritz controlled the net with 4.5 total blocks.  Meghan Fruth came up big in only her third match as a middle blocker, as two year starter Gwynne Davis is recovering from an ankle injury, totaling 3 stuff blocks and 5 kills.  Altman dished out 31 assists, breaking the 30 mark for the third time in four matches.

The Tigers (3-1) return to action this Friday, September 17^th, as Oxy will host the 2^nd Annual Tiger Fall Classic.  The defending champions face Medaille College (NY) at 8pm, marking the home opener for the Black and Orange, before three more matches on Saturday.