OSHKOSH, WI - The No. 5 University of La Verne volleyball team delivered a statement victory to open the UW–Oshkosh Invitational on Friday night, rallying from two sets down to defeat No. 3 Wisconsin–Oshkosh in five sets (19-25, 25-27, 25-23, 25-18, 15-4).
A Historic Night
The win not only kept the Leopards unbeaten at 7-0 but also marked two historic milestones: Head Coach
Jeff Hendershot's 100th career victory and senior outside hitter
Mya Ray becoming La Verne's all-time kills leader with 1,495, surpassing Brittany Yaxley's record of 1,487 set in 2015.
Ray's achievement underscores her dominance and consistency across four seasons in orange and green. A three-time All-American and SCIAC Offensive Athlete of the Year, she has been the centerpiece of La Verne's attack since arriving on campus. With nearly every swing of the night, Ray inched closer to history before finally breaking the record during the Leopards' comeback effort. She paired her offensive milestone with an all-around performance of 20 digs, two aces, and three blocks, embodying the impact she has had throughout her career.
Her new record not only etches her name atop the La Verne history books but also highlights her role in guiding the Leopards' resurgence as a national power.
How It Happened
After dropping the first two sets, La Verne dug deep to flip the momentum in the third. Sparked by efficient hitting and timely blocks, the Leopards edged the Titans 25-23 before dominating the fourth and fifth sets, closing the match on a decisive 15-4 run.
Junior Lauren Gott was a force, slamming 17 kills on .271 hitting with 12 digs. Alanna Jones contributed eight kills and six blocks, while Zacky Coaston added 10 total blocks and three kills.
America Reynaga paced the offense with 25 assists, while Vanessa Marquez dished out 14 more. Keilani Mumolo anchored the back row with 19 digs.
La Verne finished with 56 kills, nine blocks, and 83 digs, holding UW–Oshkosh to a .102 hitting percentage
Coach's Milestone: Hendershot Hits 100 Wins
Friday's victory also marked a career milestone for head coach Jeff Hendershot, who recorded his 100th win at the helm of La Verne. Since taking over the program in 2019, Hendershot has guided the Leopards to national prominence, producing multiple All-Americans and earning SCIAC Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2023. His 100th victory came fittingly against the No. 3 team in the country and in one of the biggest comeback wins in program history.
Up Next
The Leopards (7-0) continue play at the UW–Oshkosh Invitational on Saturday with a doubleheader against nationally ranked opponents. La Verne opens the day at 7 a.m. PT (9 a.m. CT) against No. 8 Hope College, followed by a matchup with (RV) University of Chicago at 9 a.m. PT (11 a.m. CT).
