Sept. 6, 2003

Match Two Box Score
Match One Box Score

Los Angeles, Calif. -- In their second match of the LMU Four Points Sheraton Classic, the Lions defeated Creighton 33-31, 31-29, 30-15, to remain undefeated at 6-0. Senior Kealani Kimball recorded 15 kills and two solo blocks to lead LMU. The 6-0 start marks the Lions best season opening since the 2000 squad. That team went on to participate in the NCAA tournament, posting a 20-9 record on the season.

Creighton (2-3) led throughout game one, until the Lions were able to capitalize on Kimball's six game one kills to battle back. Junior Kelli Nerison teamed with sophomore Michelle Look for the block that tied the game at 27 and forced a Blue Jay timeout. A Dina DeBernardi service ace gave LMU its first lead of the match at 28-27, but Creighton scored the following point to earn game point at 29-28. The game was tied again at 29, 30, and 31, before LMU used two block assists by DeBernardi and Tiana Newsome to record the game one victory, 33-31.

In game two, the Lions and Blue Jays traded punches, as the scored was tied 20 times. The two squads combined for seven service errors in 14 points, but LMU was able to earn game point and force a Creighton timeout at 29-28 on a Nerison kill. Nerison recorded 10 kills and four blocks on the day. Kimball's kill secured the 31-29 win for the Lions.

The Lions got off to a quick start in game three, leading by as many as 13 points. Nerison's kill gave the Lions the 28-15 lead, and the Lions scored twice more for the 30-15 victory. LMU's hitting percentage rose to .533 in game three, while Creighton's fell to .031.

Match One
In the 10:00a.m. matchup, Eastern Washington (3-3) defeated Northeastern (0-4) in three games, 30-17, 30-23, 30-23. Eastern's Lindsay Page recorded 12 kills and a .733 hitting percentage. As a team, the Eagles posted 14 service aces against the Huskies. Junior Megan Kitterman added eight kills, good for a .583 hitting percentage, and setters Jessie Wright and Courtney Bush combined for 32 assists.

Northeastern was led by Rebecca Holland's 11 kills and Kristin Ursillo's 30 assists. The Huskies outblocked Eastern 5-2.

Eastern Washington is now 2-0 in the LMU Four Points Sheraton Volleyball Classic and shares the lead with host LMU, who is also 2-0 in the tournament. Northeastern and Creighton drop to 0-2 in the round robin. Both sets of teams will faceoff this evening in Gersten Pavilion, with Creighton and Northeastern playing at 5:00p.m. and Eastern Washington and Loyola Marymount at 7:00p.m.

--GO LIONS--