Nov. 4, 2003
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Briefly...
Loyola Marymount (22-4, 7-2 WCC) dropped four spots in the USA Today/AVCA weekly poll after defeating San Francisco (3-2) and and falling to Saint Mary's (3-2) up north over the weekend. Middle blocker Kelli Nerison recorded a career-high 19 kills and added seven blocks in the win over San Francisco. Sophomore Tiffiny Self stepped up for the Lions on Saturday, posting 10 kills, eight digs, and a .409 hitting percentage.
Up Next
LMU will wrap up its final five conference games, with three of the five teams ranked in the nation's top 20. This week, the Lions put their 12-0 home winning streak on the line against No. 4 Pepperdine, the only undefeated team in the West Coast Conference. The cross-town rivals will square off Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
Pepperdine Waves (19-2, 9-0 WCC)
Pepperdine's No. 4 national ranking in the lastest AVCA/USA Today Top-25 poll passes the highest ranking ever given to the Waves volleyball program. Senior outside hitter Katie Wilkins posted a double-double against Saint Mary's as the Waves won 3-0 in Moraga. Against San Francisco, Wilkins posted a .480 hitting percentage, averaged 28 kills, nine digs, seven blocks and two service aces in a 3-2 victory over the Dons. Wilkins was named WCC Co-Player of the Week for her play. Pepperdine, with 17 straight victories, now looks to break the WCC all-time win streak mark. The Waves have also won 39 straight WCC matches dating back to the 2000 season.
LMU in NCAA's National Statistical Rankings
No.17 Loyola Marymount appears among the nation's best in the weekly NCAA statistical rankings. For the rankings for games played through October 26, LMU ranks 10th in match won-lost percentage at .875. The Lions also rank 15th in blocks per game (3.0) and hitting percentage (.270). Junior Kelli Nerison ranks 16th in the nation in hitting percentage (.396) and 30th in the nation in blocks per game (1.42).
LMU in National Rankings
Last week marked the fourth straight week the Loyola Marymount volleyball climbed in the USA Today/AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 poll. The climb equaled the season's highest jump in the poll, as the Lions moved four spots to No. 13 after defeating No. 12 Santa Clara and No. 16 San Diego. The Lions have now defeated four teams that were ranked at the time of the victory: No. 7 UC Santa Barbara on September 2, No. 24 San Francisco on October 4, No. 12 Santa Clara on October 24, and No. 16 San Diego on October 25. The most recent top-20 wins also extended LMU's home winning streak to 12-0, the longest home streak in program history. Last week, LMU jumped ahead of Santa Clara and San Diego in the poll for the first time this season. Four WCC teams appeared, with the Lions listed second to Pepperdine.
LMU Splits with Saint Mary's
No. 13 Loyola Marymount dropped just its second West Coast Conference game of the season Saturday evening in Moraga, Calif. The Lions (22-4, 7-2 WCC) pushed Saint Mary's (17-10, 3-6 WCC) to five games, but fell 3-2 (27-30, 30-21, 20-30, 30-25, 15-11). The loss gives LMU and Saint Mary's a series split, as the Lions defeated the Gaels 3-2 on October 3rd in Gersten Pavilion earlier this season.
LMU Completes Sweep of San Francisco
No. 13 Loyola Marymount (22-3, 7-1 WCC) completed the WCC series sweep against previously-ranked San Francisco (19-5, 3-5 WCC) Friday evening, winning 3-2 (27-30, 30-24, 18-30, 30-26, 15-7) on the road.
Friday's win ensured the Lions' victory in San Francisco for the ninth consecutive year. Kelli Nerison led the Lions with 19 kills, seven blocks, and a match-high .378 hitting percentage. Sandy Krone and Kealani Kimball each added double-double performances for LMU.
Kimball Named WCC Player of the Week
Kealani Kimball was selected as the WCC's Player of the Week, the conference announced on October 27th. Kimball led the Lions as LMU defeated two teams then ranked above them, No. 12 Santa Clara and No. 16 San Diego, and remained undefeated in Gersten Pavilion at 12-0. The senior co-captain led the squad in kills both nights, posting 22 against No. 12 SCU and 14 against No. 16 USD. In addition to her 22 kills, Kimball added 18 digs, four blocks, three service aces, and one assist to help the Lions take three straight games from the Broncos. Against No. 16 San Diego, Kimball recorded 12 digs, five blocks, two aces, and one assist to go with her 14 kills in the victory. Kimball's strong blocking efforts in game four against USD helped to shut down Torero Kristen Hurst, as Kimball's three game four blocks held Hurst to just three kills in the final game. The Kaunakakai, Hawaii, native is now ranked seventh on LMU's all-time career leaders in kills, a category that includes LMU greats Sarah McFarland (AVCA All-American) and Sarah Noriega (Olympian/AVCA All-American), eight in total attempts, and ninth in digs. She ranks fifth in the WCC in kills, sixth in digs, and tenth in service aces.
LMU Wins WCC Race to 20
LMU became the WCC's first 20-match winner this season. A pair of victories over No. 16 San Diego and No. 12 Santa Clara put the Lions win total at 21 for the 2003 campaign. Since 1994, LMU has qualified for the NCAA tournament each time it has posted 20-plus victories.
Making History
Several 2003 Lions have found their place on LMU's all-time listings this season. Senior Tiana Newsome claimed the solo blocking title, the only career blocking title she didn't already own, on Saturday, October 25th, against No. 16 San Diego. Newsome now ranks first in LMU's history in solo blocks, block assists, and total blocks. She did lose one season title, however: teammate Kelli Nerison's season solo blocks are the most posted by a Lion, just edging Newsome's 40 solo blocks in 2002. Nerison also ranks fifth in season total blocks. Setter Nicole Oehlman hangs on to her No. 3 ranking on LMU's all-time assist list, while Kealani Kimball ranks seventh in career kills and digs and eighth in career total attempts.
DeBernardi Named Enterprise Student-Athlete of the Month
The LMU Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) announced on October 14th that sophomore Dina DeBernardi joins soccer player Kevin Novak as the Enterprise Student-Athletes of the Month. DeBernardi has been a strong part of the Lions' top-20 run this season, ranking 28th in the nation in hitting percentage (.401) during September. She was selected the WCC Player of the Week on Sept. 8, posting 56 kills and six blocks, leading LMU to an upset of then-No. 7 UC Santa Barbara. Against UCSB she recorded 23 kills with no errors for a .639 hitting percentage. In September, DeBernardi led the Lions in attack percentage (.384) and points per game (4.19) and was second with 3.63 kills per game. Enterprise will present DeBernardi and Novak with their awards prior to the start of the Lions' match against No. 16 San Diego on Saturday.
Dina DeBernardi Among Top WCC Athletes of the Month
No.17 Loyola Marymount's Dina DeBernardi was among the conference's top athletes of the month for her play during September, the West Coast Conference announced on October 3rd. DeBernardi then ranked 28th in the nation in hitting percentage, hitting .393 in matches through September 30th. Against San Diego State, DeBernardi hit .522 with 13 kills. The Lions' co-captain hit better than .400 in five matches as a middle blocker and led the team in attack percentage (.384) and points per game (4.19). She also ranked second among all Lions in kills per game (3.63).
Lions Audio Network Allows Fans to Follow LMU Athletics
Beginning with the match against San Diego State and continuing with select matches throughout the season, fans can follow LMU volleyball on the Lions' Audio Network. Thanks to an agreement with Yahoo! Sports, more than 110 LMU games will be aired live via the Internet throughout this season. In addition to the increased number of broadcasts, Yahoo! Sports will bring its state-of-the-art technology to the Lions' Audio Network. To ensure the best product for our listeners, the Yahoo! Sports partnership is a subscription-based program. Live programming is a hallmark of every major athletics program in the country and LMU's commitment is an example to the student-athletes and fans of the continuing efforts to Build Champions and Championship programs! This week's match vs. No. 4 Pepperdine will be broadcast live on the Lions Audio Network. Follow along on www.lmulions.com!
Kealani Kimball Named Cougar Mania Tournament MVP
LMU's Kealani Kimball was selected as the tournament's MVP. It was the senior's first MVP honor of the season. Kimball posted her fourth double-double of the season, with 22 kills and 25 digs against the Cougars. Overall, the Lions' co-captain totaled 49 kills, 41 digs, six aces, and four blocks on the weekend.
Kimball, DeBernardi, Oehlman Named to Cougar Mania All-Tournament Team
Setter Nicole Oehlman and middle blocker Dina DeBernardi joined Kimball on the Cougar Mania All-Tournament team. Oehlman contributed 127 assists, while DeBernardi added 36 kills and nine blocks against tournament opponents.
DeBernardi Named WCC Player of the Week, Four Points Sheraton Classic MVP
Dina DeBernardi was selected as the West Coast Conference's Player of the Week on Monday, September 8. DeBernardi posted 56 kills and six blocks on the week, leading LMU to an upset of No. 7 UC Santa Barbara and their second tournament title in as many weekends. Against No. 7 UCSB, DeBernardi recorded 23 kills with no errors, good for a .639 hitting percentage. The Scottsdale, Arizona, native earned most valuable player honors at the Four Points Sheraton Volleyball Classic, after hitting .395 against Eastern Washington, a team that had just upset No. 15 Long Beach State. She shared the Player of the Week honor with Santa Clara's Becky Potter.
DeBernardi, Oehlman, and Kimball Named to Four Points Sheraton Classic All-Tournament Team
Senior Kealani Kimball and junior Nicole Oehlman joined DeBernardi as all-tournament selections. Kimball contributed 39 kills and five blocks on the weekend, while Oehlman earned her second double-double of the tournament against Eastern Washington, recording 54 assists and 10 digs. Creighton's Katie Grady and Northeastern's Jana Kubalova represented their squads on the all-tournament team. Megan Kitterman and Lindsay Page of Eastern Washington also garnered all-tournament honors.
LMU Wins Four Points Sheraton Volleyball Classic
Loyola Marymount earned its second tournament title in as many weekends, dropping Eastern Washington in five games, 19-30, 25-30, 30-25, 30-23, 15-8. The Lions went 3-0 in tournament play this weekend, defeating participants Northeastern (30-13, 30-14, 30-18) and Creighton (33-31, 31-29, 30-15) prior to Saturday evening's final matchup. Middle blocker Dina DeBernardi was named the tournament's most valuable player after recording 33 kills and six blocks on the weekend.
LMU Drops No. 7 UC Santa Barbara
The Lions used a total team performance to upset the seventh-ranked Gauchos in four games 30-27, 26-30, 30-19, 30-20. Middle blocker Dina DeBernardi recorded 23 kills with no errors, good for a .639 hitting percentage. As a team, LMU hit .338, compared to UC Santa Barbara's .211 average.
LMU Wins 2003 Furama Hotel Invitational
The Lions claimed the 2003 LMU Furama Hotel Invitational title following a 3-0 run where they won each of their nine games. LMU dropped UNLV, West Virginia, and 2002 NCAA tournament participant Sacramento State. There was a three-way tie for second place, as Sacramento State, UNLV, and West Virginia all posted records of 1-2.
Nerison Named 2003 Furama Hotel Invitational MVP
Junior Kelli Nerison was named the 2003 LMU Furama Hotel Invitational MVP. It was the first collegiate MVP selection for the middle blocker, who finished the weekend with 29 kills and 12 blocks.
Kimball and Oehlman Join Nerison on Furama Hotel Invitational All-Tournament Team
Senior Kealani Kimball and junior Nicole Oehlman joined Nerison in representing the Lions on the 2003 LMU Furama Hotel Invitational all-tournament team. Kimball posted 38 kills and 42 digs on the weekend, while Oehlman added 96 assists. Kazmiera Imrie (28 kills) and Lisa Beauchene (81 assists) of Sacramento State, Sheila Ocasio-Clemente (24 kills) of UNLV, and West Virginia's Alison Zemanski (29 kills, 9 blocks) rounded out the all-tournament selections.
The Stratos Story
In his 13 seasons as head coach of the LMU women's volleyball program, Steve Stratos has maintained a high level of excellence throughout his program, both in the classroom and on the court. Stratos has led the Lions to nine 20-win seasons and eight postseason appearances, including four consecutive in the NCAA Championships from 1997-2000. Having coached six All-Americans, as well as numerous academic all-conference selections, Stratos maintains one of the top programs in the nation. In 1996, Stratos became the first coach in West Coach Conference history to be tabbed Coach of the Year three straight seasons after leading the Lions to their third consecutive conference title. Stratos has posted a career record of 284-127, the highest winning percentage in LMU volleyball history and second most WCC victories among current conference coaches.
-GO LIONS-
