LA VERNE, Calif. — Kelsi Robinson registered 16 kills to lead the University of La Verne volleyball team to a 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 win on the first day of the Leopard Invitational at Sports Science and Athletic Pavilion.
La Verne improves to 13-4 while UC Santa Cruz falls to 6-11.
Robinson was at her best. She got her kills on just 23 swings for .609 hit percentage and was a menace at the net as usual, recording five blocks.
Marisa Rojo put away nine kills in 21 attempts and added five digs as well as an ace. After a brief rough patch, Rojo has hit over .300 in three straight matches.
Delaney Lynch, Cherene Uale and Katelyn Winiecki each notched five kills.
Tiffany Mancuso had a nearly flawless match, handing out 36 assists and recording seven digs and two aces.
La Verne cruised through the first two sets. The Banana Slugs hung tough to start the first set, but La Verne went on a 6-2 run in the middle of the set to take a 22-17 lead and wrapped up the set with three straight points. UC Santa Cruz was within 15-12 in the second, but Lynch and Uale knocked down two kills apiece to lead a 5-0 La Verne run.
The Leopards stumbled to start the third and the Banana Slugs grabbed an 11-5 advantage. But using two kills by Robinson and a pair of aces by Natalie Barragan, La Verne ripped off a 6-0 run to tie the set at 11-11. The teams trades points until the Leopards went on another run to take a 20-15 lead and La Verne held on for the win.
La Verne returns to the court for two more matches tomorrow. The Leopards take on Lynchburg at 10 a.m. and face Muhlenberg at 7 p.m.