La Verne no longer king of the hill

The University of La Verne has been the juggernaut atop the SCIAC volleyball standings for the last decade. The real race was always for second place and Cal Lutheran seemed to be the team that was always finishing there.

But the race is as wide open this season as ever. Even before SCIAC play started the Leopards looked vulnerable. They played the same tough schedule they have always played, but unlike in years past, they weren't even competitive.

Then they lost to Cal Lutheran so the Regals looked ike the favorite. Then Pomona-Pitzer took out Cal Lutheran.So who knows what is going to happen the rest of the way.

Right now there is three-way tie - La Verne, Cal Lutheran and Redlands, all with one loss. But there is a long way to go.

This will also be the first year the SCIAC has held a four-team tournament to decide the automatic bid. It has done so in soccer, basketball and softball the past few years. By then each team should be peaking. So that four-team event will really be something to see.