Nov. 13, 2010

Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. - The LMU volleyball team (15-13, 6-6 WCC) was swept on the road at Portland (11-18, 4-9 WCC) by scores of 25-22, 25-20, 25-16. The Lions finished the year having lost five straight matches on the road.

Junior Jasmine Rankins once again led all players with 12 kills, but LMU hit just .120 as a team over the three sets. Freshman Alyse Hensley contributed 11 kills, while setter Olivia Bailey dished-out 23 assists and served-up one of LMU's six service aces. Libero Lauren DeGrandmont amassed 14 digs in front of her hometown crowd of Portland, Ore.

Kati Hronek had 11 kills to lead Portland, which hit .222 as a squad. The Pilots also served up 10 aces, including five from Madison Smith alone. Smith, who had 32 assists, also had 10 digs for a double-double. The digs mark was three less than senior Danielle Dupar, who was honored as the lone senior for the Pilots on Senior Day.

Rankins came out swinging with six kills in the first set, but LMU hit .100 as a team. Despite hitting for a -.026 percentage, Portland managed to earn a 25-22 victory in the set. Smith did her part from the service area, serving-up three aces in the opener alone. Hronek contributed three kills for the Pilots, who played LMU to eight tie scores and five lead changes in the first.

LMU led throughout most of the second set, as the two teams played to 10 tie scores and four lead changes. Rankins had five kills on 14 swings, while Hensley connected for four kills on nine attacks. Rachel Femling led the Pilots to the 25-20 victory, earning five kills. Kate Bostwick and Ariel Usher both had four kills as Portland hit .333 as a team. Trailing 19-17 in the second set, the Pilots capitalized on a big run to capture the momentum of the match. With LMU serving, Femling finished a feed from Smith to spark an 8-1 run that was sealed by a Hronek kill.

The Lions responded in the opening portion of the third set with a 5-3 lead but the Pilots held their ground to take a 12-10 lead. After an ace from Bailey, The Pilots exploded on another 8-1 run with Smith spreading the ball to a variety of attackers to keep the Lions' defense off-balance. Portland cruised the rest of the way, finishing the set and the match with a 25-16 margin. The Lions hit a measly .091 in the third, allowing a .455 mark from Portland on the other side of the net. Hronek had five kills on seven swings to close the match. Hensley finished strong for LMU, collecting four kills on seven swings.

The Lions return home to finish the 2010 season next week, beginning with a match against Saint Mary's on Thursday at 7 p.m.