La Verne Women’s Volleyball Team Reaches Division III Semifinals

The University of La Verne women’s volleyball team is now just two victories away from capturing another NCAA Division III national championship. The Leopards secured a spot in the semifinals after defeating Wisconsin-Eau Claire with set scores of 25-19, 25-20, 13-25, and 25-18 in a quarterfinal match held on March 13, 2024, in Bloomington, Illinois.

This marks the first time since 2008 that La Verne has advanced to the Division III semifinals, where they previously finished as national runner-up. The fifth-seeded Leopards, boasting a season record of 29-2, will face eighth-seeded Berry College, which has a record of 28-7, on March 14, 2024, at 17:30 PST. Berry earned their place in the semifinals by defeating top-seeded East Texas Baptist, marking the Tigers’ first loss in 35 matches this season.

Mya Ray, a standout player for La Verne, led the team with a match-high 27 kills. The senior outside hitter from Diamond Ranch High School entered the match as the Division III kill leader and was recently recognized as the Division III national player of the year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Ray’s impressive performance included eight kills during the first set, showcasing her skill and determination.

The Leopards exhibited exceptional teamwork, particularly at the net, recording a total of 15 blocks throughout the match. Junior middle blocker Zacky Coaston contributed significantly with five kills and provided solid defensive support with two solo blocks and five block assists. Abigail Montana, another key player, finished with seven block assists, further solidifying La Verne’s defensive strength.

La Verne took control of the first set after a tightly contested beginning, overcoming a 16-17 deficit by scoring six consecutive points. Ray’s back-to-back kills, combined with three attacking errors from Wisconsin-Eau Claire, allowed the Leopards to seize momentum and close out the set.

In the second set, the teams were tied at 8 before La Verne surged ahead with an 8-1 run, fueled by Ray’s two kills and two aces. Although Wisconsin-Eau Claire managed to stave off three set points, Lauren Gott ultimately delivered the kill that granted the Leopards a two-set lead.

Despite La Verne’s efforts for a clean sweep, Wisconsin-Eau Claire rallied in the third set, executing an 11-3 run that shifted control back to the Blugolds. The fourth set remained competitive, with neither team leading by more than two points until La Verne pulled ahead with a four-point streak, largely driven by Ray’s remarkable performance. She scored eight kills in the final frame, closing the match with three consecutive points.

In addition to Ray’s contributions, Gott added seven kills and led the team defensively with 13 digs, while setters America Reynaga and Vanessa Marquez combined for 38 assists. Keilani Mumolo also made a notable defensive impact with 12 digs.

For Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Abby Stanwood led with 16 kills, followed closely by Bailey Leeke with 15 kills and 13 digs. Mya Cinnamo contributed 13 kills, while Kaitlyn Erickson recorded a match-high 17 digs and Alex Kiebel provided 42 assists.

The La Verne women’s volleyball program has a storied history, having claimed the NCAA Division III national championship in 1982 and 2001. As they prepare for the semifinal match against Berry, the Leopards are focused on adding another title to their accomplishments.