Nov. 15, 2003

Box Score

Los Angeles, Calif. - No. 17 Loyola Marymount (24-5, 9-3 WCC) defeated Portland (11-17, 1-12 WCC) in three games to close out its home schedule in Gersten Pavilion. The victory gave LMU a program-best home record at 14-1, as the Lions honored their four seniors in a pre-match ceremony.

Using the emotion of the senior ceremony to start them off, the Lions jumped to a quick 8-0 lead. The eight unanswered points featured two kills by senior Kealani Kimball, a block by senior Tiana Newsome, and an ace by junior Nicole Oehlman. Holding on to a ten point advantage for most of game one, Newsome tallied two kills in the final three points to secure the 30-17 victory. The Lions held Portland to a -.038 hitting percentage in the first game, while out-blocking the Pilots 6.0 to 1.0.

Kimball kept the Lions strong through the second game, breaking a 5-5 tie with three consecutive kills. Posting eight kills in the second game, Kimball led the Lions to a .380 hitting percentage. Newsome earned game point for the Lions on sixth kill of the night, and LMU took game two by the same score of 30-17 on a kill by Kelli Nerison.

Nerison gave the Lions an early five point lead in the third game, posting three consecutive kills at 8-3. She extended that lead to 15 on back-to-back solo blocks to bring the score to 25-10. Sophomore Tiffiny Self, who had recorded two straight aces earlier in the game, served her third ace of the game to put the Lions up 26-10. A Kimball kill gave the Lions match point, but Portland hung on for four points, thanks to kills by senior Heather Denison. Despite Denison's 12 kills on the evening, LMU took game three and the match. The Lions hit a match-high .400 in the final game.

Each game ended with the same score of 30-17, while the Lions improved their team hitting percentage each game. LMU ended the match out-blocking Portland 11.0 to 3.0.

Appropriate for Senior Saturday, Kimball and Newsome led the Lions. Kimball posted 17 kills and 14 digs for her 16th double-double of the season. Newsome added nine kills and a team-high .467 hitting percentage. Senior Elizabeth Samson also contributed six digs, while Self served four aces on the evening, a career-high for the sophomore.

The home victory secured a program-best 14-1 Gersten Pavilion record for the Lions, beating the previous home record of 13-1 set in 1996. The 24th win for the Lions also marked the most victories for LMU since that same season when the squad went 26-3 and 14-0 in conference play. That 1996 team advanced to the NCAA Tournament first and second rounds before losing in the Pacific Regional Semifinal.

No. 17 LMU will close out its season with a tough road trip next weekend. The Lions will face No. 22 San Diego (17-10, 6-6 WCC) on Friday and No. 13 Santa Clara (19-8, 10-2 WCC) on Saturday. LMU defeated both teams, then in the top-20, at home on October 24-25th. Both road matches will begin at 7:00 p.m.

-GO LIONS-