New Partnership With Sheraton

VOLLEYBALL

CONGRATULATIONS TO CRISTA JONES FOR BEING NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICA BY THE AMERICAN VOLLEYBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION (AVCA)

DOMINICK COPAS (BASEBALL)

One of the most feared hitters of his time, Copas was a two-time All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) performer for the Leopard baseball team.  In his debut season in 1986 he blasted a conference-best 14 homers in his first season as the Leopards won the SCIAC crown.  In 1987 he led La Verne in homers (11) and runs batted in (44) as the Leopards captured the conference crown with an undefeated 18-0 mark.  Copas currently ranks third all-time in home runs (30) and fifth in runs batted in (109) on the Leopard career charts. 

AMY SMITH (VOLLEYBALL/TRACK & FIELD)

A product of Atascadero High School, Smith became the first La Verne volleyball player to earn American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Player of the Year honors in 2003.  Smith was a member of four consecutive Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Championships in volleyball (2000-03) and was a member of La Verne's 2001 NCAA Division III National Championship squad.  After recovering from a knee injury during her sophomore campaign, Smith enjoyed on the finest seasons in Leopard volleyball history, collecting 348 kills while averaging a team-high 3.41 kills per game as La Verne reached the NCAA Semifinals for the second time in three seasons.  For her career she amassed 831 kills.  She also excelled in track and field by qualifying for the NCAA Championships in both the high jump (2001, 2003) and the javelin (2004).  Smith earned SCIAC individual crowns in both the high jump (2001) and javelin (2001, 2004).  She was honored as La Verne's Jesse Iles Scafani Sportswoman of the Year in 2004.

LIZ LUCSKO (TRACK & FIELD)

One of the most decorated track and field athletes in La Verne history, Luckso captured seven Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) individual championships during her career.  She was a three-time conference champion in the long jump (2001, 2002, 2003) and a two-time champion in both the 100 meter hurdles (2000, 2003) and triple jump (2001, 2002).  In addition Lucsko was a member of three SCIAC championships in the 4 x 100 meter relay.  In 2003 she led La Verne to its second-ever SCIAC Championship in women's track and field en route to earning SCIAC Female Athlete of the Year and Division III West Region Female Athlete of the Year.  Lucsko was a two-time All-American in the long jump (2002, 2003), concluding her career with a personal best 19 feet, 2 inches to finish fourth at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Championships.  She also set a school record in the 100 hurdles (14.97) in 2002.  She was named as La Verne's Jesse Iles Scafani Sportswoman of the Year in 2003.

GINA MEZA (SOFTBALL)

Gina Meza arrived to La Verne in 1999 from Bishop Amat High School and embarked on one of the most successful careers in the history of Leopard softball.  Meza was a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) First Team All-America selection in both the 2001 and 2003 seasons.  She helped lead La Verne to three straight conference championships (2000, 2001, 2002).  The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Player of the Year in 2001 and 2003, Meza is the only La Verne player and one of five players in conference history to be named First Team All-Conference in each of her four seasons.  Additionally she is a Four-time All-West Region selection (2000-2003).  She led the conference in hitting in 2001 with a .440 average.

KENNY CLEMENS (WATER POLO)

A two-time All-America in water polo, Kenny Clements was one of the most prolific offensive performers in conference history during his two seasons with the Leopards.  Clements helped propel La Verne to a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Championship in 2000 as La Verne edged Redlands 6-5 in tournament title match to claim its first-ever conference crown in men's water polo.  Clements averaged nearly three goals per game throughout his two-year career after transferring from Citrus College.  He would lead La Verne in goals, assists and steals in 1999 and 2000 while earning First Team All-SCIAC honors both seasons.  After leading La Verne to the conference championship, Clements was named the 2000 Division III Player of the Year by the Collegiate Water Polo Coaches Association.  Additionally, he twice led La Verne into the prestigious Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championships, where he was named to the All-Tournament Team in 2000.

GARY STEWART (BASKETBALL)

Gary Stewart earned distinction as both a player and later as a coach at the University of La Verne.  As a coach he guided La Verne from last place to first in three years and remains the only coach in La Verne history to lead his team to a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) title or a berth in the NCAA Division III Championship. Additionally, he ranks second all-time at La Verne with 116 wins during his eight-year tenure.  Stewart graduated from La Verne in 1984 following a highly distinguished playing career. He earned All-SCIAC distinction all four years and All-District VIII honors in each of his last three seasons. A three-year team captain, Stewart finished his career ranked among the Leopards' top 10 in numerous statistical categories. He captured the SCIAC's Ted Ducey Award, bestowed upon one senior who best exemplifies outstanding achievement in academics, athletics, leadership and sportsmanship. Additionally, he was the 1984 recipient of the Anthony P. Scafani Sportsman of the Year Award.

COMPLETE LIST OF ULV INDUCTEES