Sept. 29, 2005
LMU vs. Santa Clara 
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Briefly...
After going 5-1 in six straight matches on the road, No. 20 Loyola Marymount returns home to open West Coast Conference play Friday night at Gersten Pavilion. The Lions' first conference foes will be a pair of nationally ranked programs in fifteenth-ranked Santa Clara and twelfth-ranked San Diego. After a 3-2 win over ninth-ranked Hawaii in Honolulu last weekend, the Lions now sport a national ranking of their own, sitting in the 20th spot on Volleyball Magazine's poll this week.
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 Tuesday. The top-20 Lions open West Coast Conference play this weekend in Gersten Pavilion, with 12th-ranked San Diego and 15th-ranked Santa Clara visiting Friday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. LMU's Friday night effort led to its first national ranking this season. The RichKern.com/AVCA Division I Regional Computer Index, which serves as a mid-season NCAA RPI simulation was also released on Tuesday. LMU ranks sixth in the Pacific Region, which placed three teams in the top-10. The Lions have an overall figure of 29th, ahead of other AVCA ranked teams in the region including USC, Santa Clara, Cal, and Washington.
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 volleyball 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. 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. Hughes' combination of 29 kills and 16 digs made her one of three Lions to post double-doubles. Setter K.C. Walsh (62 assists, 17 digs) and Christianna Reneau (14 kills, 28 digs) joined her. Houseman was the fourth Lion to record double-digit kills, finishing with 12 and hitting .385.
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 West Coast Conference 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.
DeBernardi Makes History in 3-2 Thriller...
LMU rallied to win two straight games at the end of a two hour, 15 minute thriller to earn the 3-2 (30-24, 26-30, 22-30, 30-19, 15-11) win over Southern Methodist University at the Hawthorne Suites Cal State Fullerton Invitational. Senior Dina DeBernardi made history in the LMU win, becoming the first Lion to reach 1,000 career kills and 300 career total blocks.DeBernardi's 16 kills placed her exactly at the 1,000 career mark and made her the eighth Lion to reach the milestone. She had passed the 300 total block mark last week. Hughes and Walsh finished with double-doubles, with Hughes tallying 20 kills and 16 digs and Walsh adding 50 assists and 10 digs. The freshman setter was two kills short of LMU's first triple-double this season.
Lions Runners-up at Sac State Tourney...
LMU dropped its first match of 2005 in the title match-up at the Sacramento State Invitational. The Lions fell 3-1 (30-27, 30-22, 28-30, 30-24) to host Sacramento State (5-5) at the Hornets Nest. LMU's Jania Motton and Heather Hughes were named to the all-tournament team for their weekend efforts. It was Motton's first action of 2005. Freshman setter K.C. Walsh (60 assists, 19 digs) and sophomores Christianna Reneau (22 kills, 20 digs) and Hughes (16 kills, 27 digs) each registered double-doubles on the night. Led by Reneau and Hughes, the Lions out-dug the Hornets 108 to 102.
The Transfer's Tourney...
LMU's Christianna Reneau led the Lions to a 3-0 start and the LMU Four Points Sheraton LAX Classic title, as she took home the MVP and all-tournament selections. The sophomore transfer recorded 37 kills, 40 digs, a .301 hitting percentage, one ace and a block over 10 games.
Lions Win Four Points Sheraton LAX Classic...
Loyola Marymount volleyball went 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 Saturday evening in Gersten Pavilion. Sophomore transfer Christianna Reneau was named tournament MVP, after leading the Lions to the championship to kick-off the 2005 LMU season. Four Lions finished with double-digit kills in the championship tilt, as Heather Hughes had a match-high 16. She and senior Dina DeBernardi joined Reneau on the All-Tournament Team. Reneau, Hughes, and freshman setter K.C. Walsh each had double-doubles on the evening as well. The Lions held the Vandals to just a .091 team hitting percentage 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.
