La Verne to host volleyball regional

By Michelle Gardner
Staff Writer

Coming into the season, University of La Verne volleyball coach Don
Flora wasn't quite sure what to expect. He didn't have an experienced
setter returning and that was just one of many question marks.

So that fact his team is ranked third nationally and favored to win
the six-team Division III West tournament which starts Thursday is a
little overwhelming.

The Leopards (23-2) are seeded first so they earned a first-round
bye, as did No. 2 seed Cal State East Bay. La Verne is 5-0 against
teams in the field with No. 4 seed Pacific Lutheran the lone team in
the field it has not faced. Four of those five wins came by 3-1
scores and the other was a 3-0 sweep.

The Leopards, ranked fourth nationally, will take to the court Friday
against the winner of tonight's Nebraska Wesleyan-Pacific Lutheran
match.

``This team has exceeded my expectations big time,'' says Flora,
rounding out his 11th season. ``I knew we had some talented players
but we also had a lot of question marks. We have had some kids step
up and contribute more than they had in the past. It has been a very
rewarding season already.''

La Verne is led by two-time SCIAC Player of the Year Brianna
Gonzales. She led the SCIAC in kills per game (3.92), ranked eight in
hitting percentage (.268) and ninth in digs per game (3.47).

Other veteran starters are junior middle Crista Jones, junior middle
Ashley Morgado and sophomore libero Chelsea Slight.

But what has made the difference for the Leopards is the progress of
junior setter Yesenia Lopez. She red-shirted her freshman year at
Cal State Bakersfield, then played there sparingly in 2006. She
transferred to La Verne last year where she again saw limited duty.

Flora was so concerned about the setter position he brought in three
newcomers to compete for the spot with sophomore Anna Calmer who
served as the backup last year. The emergence of Lopez allowed him to
move Calmer to hitter, giving the Leopards another weapon on the
outside and solving another problem.

It worked so well both Calmer and Lopez earned all-conference honors.
Flora gave all the credit Lopez.

``She was 100 percent committed to becoming a better player,'' he
said. ``She worked hard over the summer and got fit and got stronger.
It was all her. In addition to that she has become a very good leader
which is something you really want out of your setter.''

The Leopards have won nine straight SCIAC titles, last advancing to
the Elite Eight in 2005. Gonzales and senior Madison Bradley are the
holdovers from that team. They're prepared for another run.

``I'm really proud of this team, especially the young girls that have
improved so much'' Gonzales said. ``We're peaking at the right time
and we're ready.''

DIVISION II WEST REGION VOLLEYBALL

Site: Frantz Athletic Court, University of La Verne

Schedule: Thursday - No. 3 Cal Lutheran (24-6) vs. No. 6 Puget Sound
(17-7), 4:30 p.m.; No. 5 Nebraska Wesleyan (19-9) vs. No. 4 Pacific
Lutheran (20-6), 7 p.m.; Friday (semifinals) - No. 2 East Bay (29-4)
vs. Cal Lutheran-Puget Sound winner, 4:30 p.m.; No. 1 La Verne (23-2)
vs. Wesleyan-Pacific Lutheran winner, 7 p.m.; Saturday (Championship)
- 7 p.m.

Defending champion: Puget Sound

What's at stake: The winner will play in the Elite eight at the
Shirks Center at Illinois Wesleyan (Bloomington, Ill.) Nov. 20-22.

Comment: La Verne dropped to No. 4 in this week's AVCA poll despite
not losing. Five of the six teams in the field are ranked with East
Bay at No. 9, Cal Lutheran at No. 14, Pacific at No. 16 and Puget
Sound at No. 20.
Admission: Adults $6, students $5, children 12-under $4.