Aug. 30, 2003
Match Two Box Score
Match One Box Score
Los Angeles, Calif. -- After trailing much of the third game, Loyola Marymount fought back and beat West Virginia to remain undefeated in the LMU Furama Hotel Invitational. LMU (2-0) has now won their first six games, after today's 30-24, 30-21, 30-28 victory.
In the first game, LMU went on several consecutive point runs, including a run where the Lions recorded seven straight points. In back-to-back plays, Kelli Nerison's block and ace forced a Mountaineer timeout at 23-17. West Virginia (1-1) then went on a run of its own, shrinking the Lions' lead to 28-24. Kimball ended the Mountaineer streak with a kill, and LMU secured the 30-24 victory.
The Lions broke away again in game two when Tiana Newsome's kill gave them a lead of 16-7. LMU's momentum continued, and Elizabeth Samson entered the game to serve at 28-19. West Virginia's Jennifer Hayhurst ended Samson's hopes of serving for the game, as her kill held the score at 28-20. Amanda Tranqillo followed with an ace for the Mountaineers. West Virginia setter Brandice Studnicka, who posted 36 assists, then committed consecutive setting errors, and the Lions won the second game 30-21.
Eager to cause a fourth game, the Mountaineers came out fighting in the third. West Virginia built a 16-8 lead on kills by Alison Zemanski, Julie Hockenson, and Zolna. But the Lions began to chip away at that lead, thanks in part to the play of Kimball and Dina DeBernardi, who ended the match with nine kills and three blocks.
West Virginia was able to score three straight to hold onto the lead at 25-20, but the Lions fought back to cut the Mountaineer lead to one at 26-25. With sophomore Krista Houseman serving, Nerison's fourth block of the night tied the game at 27. West Virginia was able to score once more, but a DeBernardi kill and Nerison/Nicole Oehlman block set up match point for the Lions. LMU held on to earn the comeback in game three, winning 30-28.
Match One
In the 10:00 a.m. matchup, Sacramento State defeated UNLV in three games, 31-29, 30-21, and 30-25. Both teams had been defeated in their first tournament contests on Friday. Sacramento State (1-1) was led by Kazmiera Imrie, who recorded 15 kills and seven digs. Imrie's game-point kill in the first game gave the Hornets their 31-29 victory.
UNLV came back and won the first point of game two on a kill by Michelle Johnson. Johnson ended the match with 12 kills, and setter Nicki King added 41 assists. After leading for most of the game, the Hornets reached game point on a kill by Shannon Arts. Arts had seven kills and three digs in the match.
Trailing again in the third game, UNLV battled back to tie the score at 18. The Rebels' Michelle Banks ended the longest rally of the match with a kill, tying the score once again at 24. UNLV would score once more, but a kill by Sacramento State's Arts ended game three at 30-25 and the match at 3-0.
Play continues this evening in the LMU Furama Hotel Invitational when West Virginia takes on UNLV at 5:00 p.m. and Loyola Marymount hosts Sacramento State at 7:00 p.m. The tournament title and all-tournament team will be announced following the 7:00 p.m. matchup.
--GO LIONS--
