BLOOMINGTON, IL. - For the fifth time in program history, and the first time since 2008, the University of La Verne women's volleyball team is heading to the NCAA Division III National Championship match. After outlasting Berry in a five-set thriller on Thursday night inside the Shirk Center, the victory sends the Leopards (30-2) into Saturday's title showdown against UW-Oshkosh at 2 p.m. (PST).

La Verne and Berry traded blows from the opening serve, setting the tone for a match defined by momentum swings, high-octane offense, and late-set drama. The Vikings edged out the first set 28-26, but La Verne roared back with a dominant 25-17 second set and a composed 25-22 third. Berry answered again in the fourth, setting up a decisive fifth frame - and the Leopards delivered under pressure, sealing the match 15-13 to book their spot in the national final.

Mya Ray continued her postseason brilliance with a performance that once again bordered on unstoppable. She registered 36 kills, nearly matching the career high of 37 she posted in the Regional Final, while hitting .325 on 80 swings and adding 13 digs. With 38 points on the night, Ray was once again the heartbeat of the Leopards' offense.

Junior outside hitter Lauren Gott delivered big swings and big defense all night, posting 12 kills and 16 digs - her steady presence felt in every long rally. Gott, who surpassed the 1,000 career digs milestone last night, now sits at 1,016 digs in her career and has totaled 324 this season. Her reliability in the back row and conversion in crucial moments were essential as the Leopards fought through the tight final sets.

Mariah Ray led the supporting group with an efficient 9 kills on .500 hitting, plus five digs and four block assists as she impacted every phase of play. Zacky Coaston contributed six kills and three blocks in the middle, America Reynaga added 19 assists to keep the attack balanced, Keilani Mumolo provided 16 digs, while Malia Capistrano tacked on 12 digs of her own and dependable serve-receive.

With 33 tie scores across five sets, the match showcased how close and competitive every point was, and La Verne once again showed the composure needed to advance on this stage. The Leopards already faced UW-Oshkosh once this season in a hard-fought 3-2 win, setting the stage for another strong matchup in Saturday's national final.

The Leopards are championship-bound, moving on to face UW-Oshkosh in the NCAA Division III National Final on Saturday, December 6 at 2 p.m. PST.

Watch here.