Volleyball sweeps Leopard Invitational

Volleyball sweeps Leopard Invitational

LA VERNE, Calif. — The University of La Verne volleyball team wrapped up its annual Leopard Invitational with sweeps over Lynchburg and Muhlenberg on Saturday at Sports Science and Athletic Pavilion.

The Leopards have now won seven matches in a row and improves to 15-4 overall.

Tiffany Mancuso and Kelsi Robinson were named to the All-Tournament Team as voted by the head coaches.

Match 1: La Verne 3, Lynchburg 0

La Verne rode balanced attack to beat Lynchburg, 25-16, 25-10, 25-20 in the first match of the day.

Marida Rojo led the attack with nine kills on 21 attempts. She add an ace, six digs and a solo block.

Delaney Lynch and Cherene Uale each posted seven kills and Robinson followed with five. Katelyn Winiecki and Kaylee Johnson recorded three kills each.

Mancuso led all players with 24 assists while recording one service ace, two digs and a block. Kristen Sanchez had 19 digs, three assists and two aces.

The Hornets blitzed the Leopards out of the gate, jumping out to a 6-1 lead in the first set. But they cooled off quickly as the commited three attack errors and a bad set to aid a 5-0 run by the Leopards. La Verne rattled off a 4-0 run later in the set to take a 22-15 lead, sealing the set.

La Verne used the momentum to east past Lynchburg in the second and third sets. The Leopards held the Hornets to just .016 hitting in the final two sets.

Match 2: La Verne 3, Muhlenberg 0

The Leopards shorted the bench in the final match of the tournament, using only eight players in a comfortbale 25-12, 25-11, 25-12 victory.

Cassie Thompson led the match with 11 kills on just 21 attempts. Rojo continued her hot streak, knocking down 10 kills without an error on 19 attempts, and added a team-high nine digs. Lynch also pitched in 10 kills and Robinson had nine. Robinson registered four service aces.

The Leopards were essentially unstoppable. La Verne put away 46 kills as a team while committing only seven errors on 100 swings.

Mancuso passed out 38 assists.

The Leopards were tested briefly in the second set as the Mules got out to a 15-11 lead. But La Verne ripped off a 7-2 run to take a 18-17 lead and finished the set on another 7-2 streak to grab a decisive lead.

Up next

The Leopards return to SCIAC play at home against Whittier on Tuesday.