Nov. 23, 2004

Box Score

Los Angeles, Calif. - Playing to the full five games for the second time in five days, Loyola Marymount volleyball (17-11, 8-6 WCC) fell to Cal State Northridge (17-10, 11-7 BWC) 3-2 in the regular season finales for both teams. CSUN edged the Lions 30-25, 30-32, 30-28, 24-30, 15-12, to give LMU just its fourth loss in Gersten Pavilion this season.

Freshman Heather Hughes and junior Krista Houseman each tallied 13 kills for the Lions, with Hughes chipping in 17 digs. Senior Dina DeBernardi added nine kills and six blocks, while libero Michelle Look recorded a career-high 32 digs.

The serving of Look won the Lions four straight points and built a six point advantage at 18-12 in the first game. But CSUN rallied back within two at 22-24, before going on a 8-0 run to win game one 30-25 despite senior Kelli Nerison's five kills and five blocks.

CSUN carried the momentum of the comeback into the start of game two, taking a 14-7 lead. But the serving of senior Jacene Dimson and kills by redshirt freshman Jania Motton and sophomore Sandy Krone, brought the Lions back within three. The Matadors extended it back to a five point lead as late as 25-20. But the Lions mirrored CSUN's game one run, taking four straight points on kills by Houseman and DeBernardi to earn game point at 28-29. Though the Matadors tied the game at 30, LMU won game two 30-32 on a block by DeBernardi and Hughes.

Game three saw the lead change 15 times. LMU won back-to-back points on a kill by Houseman and a block by DeBernardi to tie the game at 27 and force a CSUN timeout. But with the game tied at 28, the Matadors took two straight points to win the third set 30-28.

The Lions took a 9-12 lead in game four when Nicole Oehlman served up six straight points, which featured two kills by Houseman and a block by DeBernardi. A kill by Hughes extended the lead to five at 14-19. LMU went on for the must-win fourth game victory 24-30 to tie the match at 2-2 and force a decisive game five.

Houseman tied the fifth game at five with her second kill of the game. The teams switched sides with CSUN leading 8-6 in a battle of the first-to-15. LMU responded with three straight points on kills by DeBernardi, Krone, and Hughes. CSUN came back with four consecutive points of its own though, and won the fifth game 15-12.

CSUN's victory marked just the third time the Lions were defeated in Gersten Pavilion all season. The Matadors were led by Jen Ryan, who tallied an impressive 31 kills and 21 digs.

The Lions will celebrate the Thanksgiving weekend, awaiting Selection Sunday on November 28, when the 64-team NCAA Volleyball Championship field will be announced on ESPNews. The announcement will be made around 3:40 Pacific time.

A trip to the 2004 NCAA Championship would mark the second straight season the Lions have qualified for postseason play. Last year, the Lions defeated Cal State Northridge 3-0 in the first round, before falling to eventual national champion USC in round two. The finish earned the Lions a 2004 preseason ranking of 17th in the nation.

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