BLOOMINGTON, IL. - The University of La Verne women's volleyball team is moving on to the national semifinals after powering past UW-Eau Claire in a 3-1 victory Wednesday night at the NCAA Division III Championship, earning their spot among the final four teams left standing. The Leopards delivered a poised, dominant performance on the biggest stage of the season, winning sets one, two, and four behind explosive offensive firepower and a suffocating presence at the net.

From the opening whistle, La Verne set the tone with efficiency and balance, taking the first set 25-19 and following with a commanding 25-20 second set. UW-Eau Claire surged in the third, but the Leopards responded with maturity and control, bouncing back to close the match with a 25-18 fourth-set win.

Mya Ray once again proved unstoppable, putting together one of the most dominant Elite 8 performances in Division III this season with 27 kills, 8 digs, 2 aces, and a .351 hitting percentage. Her ability to take over rallies and score in critical moments fueled the Leopards through every turning point of the match.

Junior middle blocker Zacky Coaston continued her postseason tear with a huge night of her own, finishing with 11 kills and an incredible .435 hitting percentage, while adding two solo blocks and five block assists. Coaston repeatedly made herself available offensively and came through with timely scoring swings that shifted the momentum back to the Leopards whenever the Blugolds threatened.

Lauren Gott added another strong all-around performance with seven kills, 13 digs, and three block assists, anchoring the six-rotation stability La Verne has leaned on all season. With her 13 digs, Gott reached 1,000 career digs.  Abigail Montana added seven blocks in a key defensive showing, while setter America Reynaga directed the offense with a team-high 23 assists, Vanessa Marquez chipped in 15 more assists, and libero Keilani Mumolo steadied the back row with 12 digs.

As a team, La Verne hit .263 while holding UW-Eau Claire to .167, and out-blocked the Blugolds 27-4, showcasing the dominant front-court defense that has defined their postseason run.

With the win, the Leopards advance to the NCAA National Semifinals, where they will face the No. 8 seed Berry, who upset previously undefeated No. 1 East Texas Baptist University. The semifinal is set for Thursday, December 4 at 5:30 p.m. PST.

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