CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The No. 15 University of La Verne volleyball team split the final day of the MIT Invitational, beating Springfield in straight sets and falling to MIT in five. 

The Leopards played a tough slate of games this weekend with each of their opponents coming into the games undefeated.

Season Impact: The Leopards move to 6-1 overall this season.

Game One: No. 15 La Verne 3, Springfield (25-27, 25-27, 25-18)

The Leopards opened day two of the MIT Invitational taking down another previously undefeated team, this time in straight sets. 

Kelsie Sievers led the Leopards on the attack, finishing the game with 10 kills. Marisa Rojo added seven kills of her own on .375 hitting percentage. 

La Verne dominated from the get go, opening the first set with an 11-3 lead. Springfield would not closer than four points the rest of the first set. 

Springfield surged to open the second set, taking a 7-0 lead early on. But then the Leopards flipped the switch and took the match under their control, taking the lead on an incredible 13-0 runand rolling to take a two-set.

It was more of the same in the final set with the Leopards never trailing on their way to the sweep.

Kristen Sanchez tallied a team-high 16 digs. Alexia Balistreri, Katelyn Winiecki, and Kelsie Sievers each finished with three blocks. Natalie Barragan dished out 20 assists to go with 8 digs. Madison Maynes added 12 assists of her own in the win. 

Game Two: MIT 3, No. 15 La Verne 2 (18-25, 24-26, 26-24, 25-14, 15-13) 

The Leopards opened up to a two-set lead, but MIT rallied to win the final three sets to hand the Leopards their first loss of the season. 

Delaney Lynch led La Verne with 11 kills. Marisa Rojo followed close behind with 10 kills. Mireya Rojo added seven kills of her own. 

Maynes finished the game with 21 assists with Barragan putting in 17 assists. They both added 10 digs. Sanchez had a solid game defensively, totaling 21 digs. 

MIT was led by Lisette Tellez's 17 kills. 

All-Tournament Team

Grace Cergol, Geneseo

Jen Donnelly, Springfield

Lauren Gedney, Wellesley

Kelsie Sievers, La Verne

Marisa Rojo, La Verne

Alli Davanzo, MIT

Tournament MVP: Lisette Tellez, MIT

Next Match: The Leopards open up SCIAC play on Friday, September 15 when they host No. 11 Cal Lutheran in a highly anticipated match up at 7 p.m.