LOS ANGELES — Riding a wave of energy on senior night, the Occidental women's volleyball team beat La Verne for the first time in four years with a 3-1 win over the Leopards at Rush Gymnasium on Friday.

After dropping a close second set to even the set score at 1-1, the Tigers rallied in the third and fourth sets, winning each by at least six points. 

Senior and co-captain Amanda Herold finished an overpass to seal the game, sending her teammates storming onto the court in celebration.

"I saw that ball coming over and I was like, 'booyah baby we're ending this right now,'" Herold said. "And then it went down, and Claire Strohm and I looked at each other. It's been an amazing four years.

Oxy got a lot of contributions from a lot of different places, playing its best volleyball of the season. Herold and Taylor Gorretta had 10 kills, Strohm and Cassandra Guidice each had eight, and Hannah Wagner chipped in six.

"It was pretty incredible," said Strohm, a team captain and two-time All-SCIAC selection whose been the best player for the Tigers during her career. "We had never beaten La Verne since we'd been at Oxy so to do that on our senior night as a team. We have never played more as a team, so it was incredible."

Strohm played outstanding defense with 13 kills along with Sabrina Degnan who had 14 digs, one of them to keep a key ralley alive in the pivotal third set. 

The Tigers had terrific blocking at the net with 24 total. Guidice had two solo blocks and four block assists, Gorretta and Herold had five block assists, and Strohm and Guidice each had four.

La Verne was not as good at the net with just 12 blocks. 

Oxy setter Allie Sundara played very well, distributing the ball on offense for 27 assists. She also had four service aces. 

Oxy hit .233 as a group to La Verne's .060.

Oxy improves to 13-11 overall and 8-7 in SCIAC play. The Tigers ensure they will finish the season with a winning overall record and will be at least .500 in SCIAC play.

La Verne falls to 17-8 and 10-5.

The Tigers honored seniors Claire Strohm, Sarah Goetz, Alex Melikian, Cassandra Guidice, Amanda Herold with a brief pregame ceremony.

Next Match: The Tigers finish the season at Chapman at 6 p.m. on Saturday.