Nov. 22, 2005
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Briefly...
LMU will play its final regular season match Tuesday when the Lions host UC Santa Barbara. Fans can follow all of the action as it happens on Lions' All-Access and Gametracker, both found at www.LMULions.com.
Tuesday Tidings...
The Lions wrapped-up WCC play last weekend, finishing fifth in the competitive conference. LMU will await Sunday's NCAA Selection show, in the hope of receiving an at-large invitation to the 64-team tournament field. The Lions' case would be bolstered by a win over UC Santa Barbara, who is just outside the nation's top-25 in this week's poll. UCSB has won 14 of its last 15 matches. The Gauchos hold a 24-6 advantage in the all-time series with LMU, but the Lions have won the annual battle the last two seasons. UCSB went 8-0 at home this season.
Freshman Has Late-Season Rally...
Freshman middle blocker/outside hitter Erin Downey had a season-best outing on Saturday at Gonzaga. The 6-1 Downey tallied 16 kills while hitting .464, topping her previous best of seven kills against San Francisco.
Lions Win WCC Finale...
LMU finished its WCC schedule on a winning note, defeating Gonzaga 3-1 (30-23, 18-30, 30-24, 30-18) on the road. With the win, LMU concludes WCC play 7-7, good for fifth place in the competitive conference. Four Lions registered double-digit kills, but it was freshman Erin Downey who was the story of the night. Downey tallied a career-high 16 kills, while hitting .464. Fellow freshman Emily Day added 17 kills and eight digs. Both teams came out swinging well in the opening game as LMU hit .405 with 19 kills and Gonzaga countered with 18 kills and .342 clip. The Lions used a four-point rally in the middle portion of the game to give them the needed edge as the teams traded points over the remainder of the game. Day had five of her 17 kills in the opening game including kills on the final two points. After dropping game two, the Lions went on to win games three and four behind solid hitting. LMU hit .350 and .514 as a team in the final two sets. Dina Debernardi (13 kills, five blocks, .423) and Heather Hughes (10 kills, 35 assists, .368) joined Downey and Day in double-digit kills. Sophomore Christianna Reneau added 16 digs.
LMU Falls at Portland...
Despite Christianna Reneau's double-double of 10 kills and 16 digs, Loyola Marymount volleyball fell 3-0 (30-26, 30-22, 30-19) at Portland Thursday. The Lions fall to 18-9 and 6-7 in WCC play, while Portland moves to 5-20 and 2-11. Portland held LMU to hit just .111 over the three game match, including just .061 in game three. In addition to her double-double, Reneau hit .350 on the night. Freshman Emily Day added 17 digs and nine kills. Four Pilots recorded double figures in both kills and digs during the three-game match to lead Portland. Prior to Thursday's match-up, the Lions had won five straight against the Pilots.
"We Get No Respect"...
The CSTV/AVCA Facts on File named LMU one of three "Rodney Dangerfield" teams this season. Along with Tennessee and Colorado, the publication discusses LMU as one of the nation's most dangerous teams that hasn't received a lot of respect in the poll this season. It notes LMU's successes over ninth-ranked Hawaii and 20th-ranked San Diego and adds that the Lions pushed Santa Clara to four games twice.
Senior Leaders...
LMU's seniors will graduate leaving their mark in the LMU record book. Senior Dina Debernardi will finish in the top-10 in 12 different statistical categories, including ranking second in career block assists, career total blocks, and games played. Libero Michelle Look holds the eighth-best season dig mark with 368 digs in 2004 and ranks fifth on the all-time career dig average list. Middle blocker Krista Houseman is on pace to finish among the LMU leaders in season attack percentage.
Golden Diggers...
One of the stories of the season has been LMU's ability to prolong plays with some of the best defense in the nation. The Lions remain in the nation's top-20 in digs, averaging 18.61 per game. LMU has ranked as high as second in the nation in its digs per game average. Led by sophomores Christianna Reneau and Heather Hughes, and senior Michelle Look, the Lions led the conference in the overall statistics. The Lions are led by sophomore Christianna Reneau's 411 digs this season. Reneau ranks sixth on LMU's all-time season leaders list. Senior libero Michelle Look already holds the ninth spot on that list from her 368 season dig mark in 2004. Look needs 64 more digs to make LMU's all-time career leaders list.
A Back Row Wizard...
LMU fans should be on the lookout for a familar face in the upcoming issue of Volleyball Magazine. Head Coach Steve Stratos will be featured in the magazine's "Chalk Talk" story, game (0.33). She also averaged 1.28 assists, 2.70 digs, and 0.41 blocks per game. Hughes played her best in big matches, recording a career-high 29 kills to lead LMU to the win over ninth-ranked Hawaii. She took over setting duties for part of the match against 15th-ranked Santa Clara to post a season-high 27 assists. Hughes also equaled a career-high four service aces against Cal State Fullerton to lead the Lions to their second tournament title of the month, and a career-high 27 digs in the tournament championship game at Sacramento State. Each month during the academic calendar, the S.A.A.C. selects a male and female Enterprise Rent-A-Car Student-Athlete of the Month whose performance best represents the athletic traditions of LMU.
Lions Win 3-2 Battle with #20 San Diego...
For the second time this season, LMU pushed 20th-ranked San Diego to five games in WCC action. This time, on the road at the Jenny Craig Pavilion, the Lions came out on top with the 3-2 win over the Toreros. With the win, LMU snapped USD's 16-match home winning streak, as the Toreros had not fallen on their home court in over a year. Senior Dina Debernardi tallied 13 kills and six blocks, while hitting .357 for the Lions. Freshman Emily Day once again set a new high of 15 kills. The outside hitter has now recorded double-digit kills in eight of her last nine matches. Day hit .394 Friday. Sophomore Heather Hughes shared the setting duties with freshman K.C. Walsh, and the two combined for 51 assists. Hughes also added 12 kills, 10 digs, and five blocks to ensure her second consecutive statistical triple-double. Michelle Look led the Lions with 21 digs.
Hughes Named Enterprise Rent-A-Car/LMU Female Athlete of the Month...
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (S.A.A.C.) of LMU announced that Bobby Burling of men's soccer and Heather Hughes of volleyball have been selected as the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Student-Athletes of the Month. Burling and Hughes are honored for their athletic excellence throughout September. Hughes helped LMU volleyball equal its program-best 11-2 start after tallying 211 kills, 69 assists, 18 service aces, 146 digs, and 22 blocks in 54 games playing opposite the setter for the Lions. The sophomore finished the month ranking fifth in the WCC in kills per game (3.91) and eighth in service aces per game (0.33). She also averaged 1.28 assists, 2.70 digs, and 0.41 blocks per game. Hughes played her best in big matches, recording a career-high 29 kills to lead LMU to the win over ninth-ranked Hawaii. She took over setting duties for part of the match against 15th-ranked Santa Clara to post a season-high 27 assists. Hughes also equaled a career-high four service aces against Cal State Fullerton to lead the Lions to their second tournament title of the month, and a career-high 27 digs in the tournament championship game at Sacramento State. Each month during the academic calendar, the S.A.A.C. selects a male and female Enterprise Rent-A-Car Student-Athlete of the Month whose performance best represents the athletic traditions of LMU.
LMU Earns Top-20 Ranking...
After becoming the first unranked team to beat ninth-ranked Hawaii since 1997, LMU earned a ranking of 20th in the nation, Volleyball Magazine announced on September 27. LMU's effort against Hawaii led to its first national ranking this season. The Lions are currently earning votes in the AVCA poll.
LMU Tops #9 Hawaii...
Though local flood warnings kept the NCAA-leading attendance slightly lower than usual, over 6,500 fans were on hand at the Stan Sheriff Center for the five-game, nearly three-hour thriller between LMU and ninth-ranked Hawaii. Four Lions tallied double-digit kills, including Heather Hughes' career-best 29 to lead LMU to the 3-2 (30-26, 26-30, 31-39, 23-30, 15-13) win. Hughes' combination of 29 kills and 16 digs made her one of three Lions to post double-doubles. K.C. Walsh (62 assists, 17 digs) and Christianna Reneau (14 kills, 28 digs) joined her. Houseman was the fourth to record double-digit kills, finishing with 12 and hitting .385.
LMU Stops #9 Hawaii's Streak...
The Lions became the first unranked team in eight years to defeat UH. Hawaii had not lost to an unranked team since Pepperdine in 1997. Since that loss, the Rainbow Wahine had won 206 straight matches against unranked opponents.
11-2 Start Equals Program Best...
LMU's 11-2 start to the 2005 season equals the program's best start, as both the 1996 and 2003 squads also began with 11-2 records. The 1996 team went on to a perfect 14-0 WCC season and an NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance, while the 2003 squad advanced to the NCAA's second round.
LMU Wins Second Tourney Title of Season...
LMU went a perfect 3-0 at the Hawthorne Suites Cal State Fullerton Invitational to claim its second tournament title of the season after a 3-2 (27-30, 30-20, 16-30, 30-17, 15-12) win over the host Titans. It was the third five-game contest in as many matches for the Lions. LMU, who played 15 games in two days, defeated a Cal State Fullerton team that has been nearly unstoppable on its home court over the last two seasons. Following the thriller, senior Dina Debernardi was named tournament MVP, while Heather Hughes and Krista Houseman joined her on the all-tournament team. Hughes helped secure the Saturday night victory with 21 kills and 11 digs. Christianna Reneau also added a double-double with 14 kills and 16 digs. Houseman hit .455 while tallying 12 kills. Defensive specialist Michelle Look contributed 27 digs. In the earlier 3:00 p.m. match, LMU topped San Jose State (5-6) in a five-game battle (25-30, 30-17, 30-19, 24-30, 15-13) that went down to the wire and ended in a two-point victory for the Lions. Krista Houseman (.528) and Dina Debernardi (.500) collected 24 and 21 kills respectively, and Michelle Look dug 25 kill attempts in the victory.
Lions Win Four Points Sheraton LAX Classic...
LMUwent 3-0 in tournament play and with a 3-1 (30-20, 28-30, 30-26, 30-22) win over Idaho (3-2), claimed the 2005 LMU Four Points Sheraton LAX Classic title in Gersten Pavilion. Christianna Reneau was named tournament MVP. Four Lions finished with double-digit kills in the championship tilt, as Heather Hughes had a match-high 16. She and Dina Debernardi joined Reneau on the All-Tournament Team. Reneau, Hughes, and freshman setter K.C. Walsh each had double-doubles on the evening. The Lions held the Vandals to hit just .091 to win game one 30-20. But Idaho used a seven-point streak late in game two to come from behind and steal the 30-28 contest. With the match tied at one game apiece, the Lions rallied to win the final two games. LMU finished the match out-digging the Vandals 82 to 64.
The Stats on Strat...
Head Coach Steve Stratos completed his 15th campaign at the helm of the program with a 15th straight winning season. In his time at LMU, Stratos has led the Lions to nine 20-win seasons and 10 postseason appearances from 1997-2000. Stratos began 2005 with a career record of 305-142, the most victories in LMU volleyball history and second among current WCC coaches. In league action, he owns a mark of 150-60, good for a .714 winning percentage. Posting 150 career conference victories, Stratos again ranks second among current WCC coaches. Last season, Stratos reached the 300-win milestone with a 3-0 win over the University of Portland in Gersten Pavilion.
-GO LIONS-
