LEXINGTON, KY — Malia Capistrano has been named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Region 10 Freshman of the Year, the AVCA announced Wednesday.

Sophomore Mya Ray joined Capistrano on the First Team All-Region list, and freshman Lauren Gott earned Region 10 Honorable Mention.

Capistrano, named First Team All-SCIAC earlier this season, ranks eighth in the nation in assists per set with 10.42. She has 982 assists this season with 40 service aces, 327 digs, and 18 blocks. It is the second season in a row a Leopard has earned AVCA Region 10 Freshman of the Year honors after Ray picked up the award last season.

Ray adds First Team All-Region honors after already earning SCIAC Offensive Athlete of the Year recognition. Ray leads the Leopards with 449 kills and 4.73 kills per set. 

Gott adds to the list of impressive La Verne underclassmen. The freshman, also named First Team All-SCIAC, totals 312 kills, 34 aces, and 31 digs this season.

The Leopards open up the NCAA Tournament tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. (PST) when they play Otterbein University at Wisconsin-Oshkosh.