LA VERNE, CA — The University of La Verne Women's Volleyball team played spectacularly Saturday evening after winning comfortably in four sets against Wheaton College and beating St. Norbert College in straight sets. Entering the day's action against Wheaton and St. Norbert with a 1-1 record, the Leos looked like a much more competitive and cohesive team on Saturday.

Head Coach Jeff Hendershot believes that the difference in results between the opening day of the Pacific Coast Classic and Saturday's game was the experience the team gained after getting their first two games under its belt.

"Our motto this year is to learn and grow, and they just look more comfortable," Hendershot said.

Maddison Smith, Ayana Mier, Noelani Soma, Kari Esseff, and Emily Heldenbrand made big impacts for La Verne through the Leopards' first four games. Combining both of Saturday's games, Smith, a freshman libero, finished with 13 assists and 35 digs. Mier, junior middle blocker/right side, converted 31 kills and added two blocks. Soma, outside hitter, collected 26 kills with three blocks.

Esseff, junior middle blocker, racked up 16 kills and two blocks of her own. Heldenbrand, junior setter, has been the catalyst on offense with 66 assists and forms a formidable defensive partnership with Smith as she collected 33 digs.

In their first game of the day against Wheaton, the Leos did not look like the same team who split their first two games the previous night. The Leopards looked much more impressive than in their win against Eastern Nazarene College on Friday. A two-point loss in the first set would be the only blemish on an otherwise uneventful game where the Leos were in control for a majority of the match.

The beginning of a set has not been a problem for the Leos this season. In all four sets against Wheaton they were firmly in control by the 12 point mark. The Leos held a 14-6 lead at one point but stalled at 20 points and ultimately Wheaton capitalized to take the set.