NCAA Women’s Volleyball Playoffs : UCLA, USC Gain Final Four; La Verne Loses

Four players combined for 55 kills to lead UCLA to a 15-8, 15-10, 15-11 win over Texas Saturday in the South Regional of the NCAA Division I women’s volleyball playoffs at Austin, Tex.

Katie McGarrey was the leader with 15 kills, and Dawn Kenney added 14. Liz Masakayan and Lisa Ettesvold each had 13 kills as UCLA’s hitting percentage was 39.4%.

UCLA (29-6) advanced to the final four at Kalamazoo, Mich., and will play Northwest Regional winner University of the Pacific Dec. 20. Texas finished 26-6.

At Lincoln, Neb., USC defeated Nebraska, 5-15, 15-11, 15-12, 15-7, to win the Mideast Regional and advance to the final four. The Trojans will play the winner of the West Regional between Stanford and BYU.

Elmhurst (Ill.) defeated La Verne, 15-9, 15-11, 15-8, to win the NCAA Division III women’s volleyball championship at Elmhurst.

La Verne (21-15) was hampered by poor finishes in each game. The first game was tied, 9-9, before Elmhurst scored six straight points to win, and the second game was tied, 6-6, before Elmhurst took 9 of 14 points to win the game. The third game was never close, as Elmhurst (39-9) scored eight straight points to take a commanding lead.