La Verne returns to league play just in time for conference playoffs

The University of La Verne was recently added to the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule, which could make things more difficult for Chapman teams down the stretch of their seasons. SAM ANDRUS, Photo Editor

When a new challenger approaches in the timeless video game “Super Smash Bros: Ultimate,” sirens blare as one imposing sentence flashes across the screen: “A new foe has appeared.”

Well, a new foe appeared midseason in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) for Chapman University sports teams: the University of La Verne. The school cleared its athletic teams over the weekend of April 24 to participate in SCIAC competition for the final few weeks of the season.

“We wanted to give our student-athletes every opportunity possible to play competitively this spring,” said Anthony Avila, La Verne’s athletics communication director. “Even though the season will only be a few games, we're happy that they will have this chance.”

While staff and athletes at La Verne might be happy about athletics returning, some in Chapman circles think joining the SCIAC this late in the season is an unfair advantage. Softball head coach Janet Lloyd believes it may pose a disadvantage to her squad.

“We’ve got all our stats and videos online, but (La Verne didn’t) even have a roster up,” Lloyd said April 28. “That’s where it gets unfair.”

La Verne has since uploaded a roster. 

Zela Chahbazian, a senior infielder on the softball team, is optimistic. She feels it could be a good opportunity for the Panthers to snag a couple more wins before the end of the regular season May 9.

“We can take advantage with La Verne’s first games (against us) being this weekend,” she said. 

Softball played a three-game set against La Verne, starting with a doubleheader May 1 and capping it off with an away game May 2. The Panthers split the doubleheader, losing the first game 8-2, then bouncing back with a 11-3 win in the ladder. In Sunday’s rubber match, the Panthers kept the hot bats going in an 11-4 win.

Women’s water polo, meanwhile, hosted La Verne at the Zee Allred Aquatics Center April 28, and are similarly intrigued by the competition despite the quick turnaround. 

“We’re definitely happy about (La Verne’s addition),” said Diana Khaled Hattar, a senior utility player. “We were shocked, but in general really happy to get more games in.”

Hattar was just as enthusiastic after Wednesday night’s game, despite an 11-7 loss to La Verne that marked the final game of water polo’s regular season. She said the game was important for the team to see new competition, practice new defenses and give bench players an opportunity to play. The team moved onto the SCIAC tournament as the second seed out of four and faced University of Redlands, the third seed, at home May 1, but lost 11-7 and were eliminated from the remainder of the postseason.

Ultimately, no matter what wrench La Verne’s appearance might throw into this unorthodox season, Chahbazian and other athletes are focused on the task at hand: a SCIAC championship.

“We’re going to stick with our end goal of winning the conference tournament, no matter who we have to play and how many teams we have to play,” Chahbazian said.