ORANGE, Calif. — The No. 18 University of La Verne volleyball team put together one of its most efficient offensive performance of the season to defeat Chapman, 25-18, 25-22, 25-20, on Friday night at Hutton Center.
La Verne improves to 18-4 overall and 12-2 in the SCIAC. Chapman falls to 9-11 and 6-5.
All-Americans Kelsi Robinson and Brittany Yaxley did the bulk of the work on offense for La Verne. Each registered 12 kills and Robinson added six total blocks. Yaxley landed three service aces and had three digs. The duo combined to hit .441.
La Verne jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the first set and led wire-to-wire. The Panthers got within 19-15, but the Leopards finished out the set with a 7-2 run capped off by a Yaxley kill.
The Panthers staked out to a 9-3 lead in the second set. But the Leopards roared back with a 9-2 run of their own to take a 12-11 lead as Robinson and Yaxley contributed two kills apiece during the stretch. Chapman briefly took the lead back with five straight points but the Leopards finished the frame on a 4-1 run to take a commanding two-set lead.
The third set was all Yaxley. The senior registered a service ace and knocked down all six of her third set kills after Chapman took a 11-6 lead to pull the Leopards out of the deficit. Yaxley put away three kills in a 10-1 La Verne run that essentially sealed the match.
Destinee Sales had seven kills and three blocks for La Verne. Ashlyn Cross had four kills in 10 attempts and recorded eight digs.
Tiffany Mancuso handed out 25 assists and served up two aces. Madison Hickey had 10 assists and an ace.
Michelle Hammer led Chapman's attack with 10 kills.
La Verne returns to action tomorrow night against Redlands in its final home match of the year. The team will honor its five seniors in a brief pregame ceremony. First serve is at 6 p.m. and senior ceremony will start approximately 15 minutes prior to first serve.