Fasten your seatbelts.  The 2010-11 University of La Verne women's basketball team will be a thrill-a-minute ride featuring a high-octane, full-throttle system under first-year head coach Matt Rogers.

Rogers has implemented a fast-paced, offensive-oriented style of play that is guaranteed to light up the scoreboard and make for a very entertaining season.  Aside from the new system, he says fans should also expect both passion and excitement from the Leopard squad on a nightly basis.  "We will play a bit more up-tempo than our fans are used to, and I expect us to be the hardest working team on the floor in all games," he said.  "I think you will see a group of young women who believe in each other, our goals, and our purpose.  We hope people have as much fun watching us play as we will be having playing."

The new up-tempo style that Rogers brings to La Verne is a hybrid of the system made famous by Paul Westhead at Loyola Marymount and Dave Arsenault at Grinnell with some wrinkles thrown in.  "Many people say it's chaotic, but a great deal of fundamentals are used in this system," he said.  "It's designed to keep a frenetic pace throughout the game, and as a result we're going to play lots of people.  From a fan's perspective, I think it's very fun and exciting to watch.  I hope the excitement will be contagious."

Though the system is newly-installed at La Verne, Rogers believes his current squad has adapted quickly to the new style.  "I think the players have adjusted very well," he said.  "Every player says they want to run, but very few really want to work that hard.  This group is definitely the exception to that.  They have bought into everything the coaching staff has taught them, and they are really starting to make it their own."

Rogers is also adapting to the women's game after a successful run coaching men's basketball at Maryville University in St. Louis.  Though it is his first season coaching women's basketball, he feels very much at home and believes there are many similarities between the two.  "Outside of the difference in athleticism and size, I haven't experienced much difference in coaching women from men," he said.  "If anything, I think women have a propensity to adapt to a team perspective a little quicker than men.  They understand the importance of playing together, listening to the direction the coaches give them, and they have been amazingly consistent in their effort each day."

Adding to his excitement is the fact that the Leopards enjoy a strong nucleus of returning players heading into the 2010-11 campaign.  A quartet of senior returnees includes Emily Carrillo, Ashley Paul, Mayra Duenas and Nicole Wandler in addition to junior forward Clarissa Holz. 

Carrillo returns to the squad after missing the entire 2009-10 season to injury and will be catalyst in the Leopard frontcourt.  Two seasons ago, Carrillo averaged 13.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game to earn First Team All-SCIAC accolades.  Paul, a Second Team All-SCIAC selection as a sophomore and the team's leading scorer as a junior, enters her senior campaign as the team's top outside shooting threat.  Last season she connected on 52 three-point goals en route to an 11.4 per game scoring average.  Additionally, Paul led the SCIAC in free throw percentage, connecting on 89.3% of her attempts from the charity stripe.  Holz averaged 9.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game to earn Second Team All-SCIAC honors last season.

La Verne also returns Duenas, who has been a solid and consistent force in the Leopard attack during her previous three seasons.  Duenas has shown tremendous versatility in playing multiple positions during her career and will be counted to provide experience and leadership.  In addition, the Leos return Wandler, who will help provide depth in the frontcourt.

"I have been most impressed with our four seniors and their leadership," said Rogers.  "Carrillo, Duenas, Paul, and Wandler come to work every day with a smile on their face, and they have been extremely consistent with their effort, communication, and dedication.  Their humility in wanting what is best for the team over what is best for them as individuals has been most impressive."

The Leopards have additional firepower in junior Stephanie Shepard along with sophomores Amanda Copas, Teresa Fatai  and Devon Michaels.  Copas started 25 games at point guard last year and averaged 9.6 points and 3.0 assists as a freshman.  Fatai was a regular contributor in the Leopard frontcourt and was among the team leaders in rebounding last season.  "Being able to return four seniors is great, but to have sophomores and juniors who know how to compete and play at a high level is even more important to our short-term and long-term goals," said Rogers.  "Copas, Michaels, Fatai, and Shepard have added a great competitiveness to our practices, and I expect all four to play a significant role to our season."

La Verne welcomes a capable group of newcomers that include transfer guards Raphaelle Buenefe and Mikeshaya Edwards in addition to freshmen Megan Musashi, Mia Roseboro, Jessica Castro and Kelly Kika.  "We really have a fantastic group of newcomers," added Rogers.  "Our transfers have given us great experience and toughness, and both have demonstrated a strong gift for leading.  Our freshmen have worked hard to adapt their games to our style.  They all have grown immensely since the start of practice."

A challenging non-conference schedule includes three home games against Northwest Conference schools.  La Verne begins the regular season at home on November 21 against Linfield from the NWC.  The Leopards will host two other NWC schools in back-to-back games  as they face Whitworth (Dec. 11) followed by Pacific (Dec. 21).  UC Santa Cruz appears twice on the Leopard schedule.  The first meeting will take place on December 3 in Santa Cruz before the Banana Slugs head south to face the Leos on January 2 at Frantz Athletic Court.

"I have always been a believer that you have to play the best in order to learn how to be the best," said Rogers.  "We do have a challenging schedule, but we know that if we go out and work hard and play our roles, we have every opportunity to control the result of those games.  My goal for the team is that our practices will be harder than any game we will play, so we should be prepared for all comers."

The non-league competition ultimately leads up to SCIAC Conference play, which has seen an influx of quality teams over the past four seasons.  Three different schools have claimed the conference title in the past four years, and 2010-11 appears to be just as competitive with defending co-champs Redlands and Occidental along with an improving Cal Lutheran squad in the hunt.  Whittier, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Pomona-Pitzer should also factor in the conference race.  La Verne will open SCIAC at home against Whittier on January 8.   "I know that the conference has great parity, great coaches, and great talent," said Rogers.  "I expect us to compete in each game and give each opponent our very best night in and night out."