2026 Beach Volleyball Roster
Biography
2026 (Senior): Concluded her career ranked third in program history with 88 wins and was fifth in winning percentage (.682) … Her 24 wins tied her for ninth on UNCW’s single-season wins list … Second-team All-Sun Belt Conference … Played in all 36 matches her final season with the program … Posted a 24-12 record, all coming at the second pairing … Combined with Sarah Thompson for a 12-3 record in the second half of the season … Did not lose a set on her way to a 5-0 mark at the SBC Conference Championship … Knocked off nationally-ranked North Florida late in the season.
2025 (Junior): First-tem All-Sun Belt with partner Sarah Thompson ... Posted a 22-9 record all at the number one pairing ... Went 10-3 against Sun Belt opponents ... Finished season ranked fourth on UNCW's career wins list with 64 ... Had a 12-match winning streak ... Helped Seahawks to championship dual of the Sun Belt Conference tournament with a win against Coastal Carolina.
2024 (Sophomore): Honored by the AVCA as one of the top pairs in the nation ... Teamed with Sadie Sharkey to be named the Pair of the Year by the Sun Belt Conference ... First-team All-Sun Belt ... Helped Seahawks to the Sun Belt Conference tournament semifinals ... Fashioned a 26-8 record, all coming at the top pairing ... Was 11-2 against SBC members ... Crafted an 11-match winning streak before falling to Coastal Carolina in the SBC semifinals.
2023 (Freshman): Sun Belt Conference Rookie of the Year ... Second-team All-Sun Belt honoree ... Played in all 29 duals, including 28 matches at the top pairing alongside Sadie Sharkey and went 16-12 overall and 5-5 in conference play ... Reeled off nine straight victories from Mar. 14-28.
Prior to UNCW: Played indoor volleyball at Providence High School .. Earned all-conference honors her junior and senior seasons ... Also played for Carolina Beach Volleyball Academy.
Personal: Full name: Gabriella Carol LaPata ... Daughter of Mary and Chris LaPata ... Father played ice hockey at St. Norbert College.
Historical Player Information
