LA VERNE, CA — Three Leopards finished with double-digit kills and the University of La Verne volleyball team ended the 2018 Pacific Coast Classic with a win over the Franklin & Marshall Diplomats Saturday evening.

Set Scores: 25-7, 20-25, 25-13, 25-23

Season Impact

The Leopards end their first weekend of the season 2-2 after playing a tough opening slate of games that feature matches against two top-10 opponents.

Stat Leaders

Senior Katelyn Winiecki finished with a game-high 14 kills in the match off an outstanding .524 hitting percentage. Kelsie Sievers added 13 kills against the Diplomats. The senior finished the weekend with a team-high 53 kills.

Emma Estigoy also added double-figure kills with 11. Kristen Sanchez led all players with 19 digs and dished out seven assists. Setter Madison Maynes totaled 41 assists in the game and also had impressive attacking numbers, finishing with seven kills on just 10 total attacks.

How It Happened

The Leopards smashed the Diplomats in the opening frame off an incredible .636 hitting percentage. La Verne ended the set on a 20-3 run.

But the Diplomats didn't roll over, responding in the next set off solid hitting of their own to even the match 1-1.

After La Verne made quick work of the Diplomats in the third set, the teams battled in the four set of the match. The squads went point for point for most of the period. With the set tied 23-23 late, junior Briana Voght slammed down a kill to set La Verne up with match point, and Estigoy finished the match with a kill or her own.

Next Game

The Leopards next travel to Texas for the annual Trinity Fall Classic. La Verne opens up the tournament against the host No. 11 Trinity Tigers, already their third match against a ranked opponent this season, on Friday, September 7 at 1 p.m. and finishes day one of the classic at 7 p.m. against Concordia (Tex.).

The following day, La Verne opens against Schreiner at 8:30 a.m. and finishes against Texas-Dallas at 10:45 a.m. Matches are listed in Pacific time.