Oct. 15, 2011

Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The LMU volleyball team (10-10, 3-4) forced four sets at No. 17 University of San Diego (20-1, 6-1), but eventually fell by scores of 25-19, 25-20, 23-25, 25-19 on Saturday at USD's Jenny Craig Pavilion. The Lions, who entered the week as the conference leader in service aces, served-up 10 in the loss.

Freshman Caitlin DeWitt posted a match-high tying and career-high tying 17 kills on 40 swings to lead the LMU attack. Fellow freshman Litara Keil had 10 kills with two block solos and one block assist as she hit .321 on 28 attacks. Although she was limited to six kills, senior Jasmine Rankins managed three of LMU's 10 service aces. Sophomore Betsi Metter continued her stellar second year, collecting 18 digs to accompany three aces. Junior Olivia Bailey dished-out 40 assists as the Lions hit .191 as a team over the four sets.

Last year's Freshman of the Year, Chloe Ferrari, continued her stellar young career on Saturday for San Diego, collecting 17 kills on 23 attacks with just two errors for an incredible .652 clip. Jianna Bonomi and Rachel Alvey split time setting the offense, dishing-out 24 and 21 assists, respectively, to guide USD to a .274 team hitting percentage. Just as LMU did, the Toreros served the ball well, collecting nine aces, including three apiece from Kandiss Anderson and Jane Han. Anderson also led all players with 24 digs over the four sets. In addition to the quality hitting percentage, USD managed 11 team blocks, guided by five block assists from Katie Hoekman.

USD served-up three aces and recorded four team blocks in the first set en route to defeating LMU by a count of 25-19 in the opener. Three Toreros, including Ferrari, had three kills, as the sophomore also posted two block assists. DeWitt got off to a hot start for LMU, posting six kills on 11 attacks, but LMU as a team hit .194 compared to USD's .235. Kenna Crouse also shined for LMU in the opening set, notching four of her seven match kills on just six swings.

LMU improved its hitting percentage to .235 in the second set, but USD hit for a stellar .406 percentage in its own right en route to taking a 2-0 lead in the match score with a 25-20 decision. Ferrari led the way for the Toreros, notching eight kills on nine swings without an error. Amber Tatsch also shined in the second, posting four kills on eight attacks for a .500 percentage. DeWitt once again led LMU in the second set, contributing four kills to accompany three from Alyse Hensley.

Attempting to avoid the sweep, LMU came out hot after the intermission, hitting a blistering .417 to take the third set by a count of 25-23. Freshmen DeWitt and Keil took the team on their shoulders and posted five kills apiece to lead the way for LMU. DeWitt, Rankins and Metter all pitched-in a service ace as the Lions outlasted the Toreros in the close set. Ferrari did her best to end the match in three, posting five more kills on just seven attacks to continue her outstanding performance. Anderson posted all three of her aces in the set, but LMU managed to force a fourth set against the ranked-foe.

Both teams saw its lowest hitting percentages in the fourth set, as USD hit .161 to LMU's -.086. While Ferrari managed just one kill in the finale, Tatsch picked up the slack with four kills and a block solo. Han also finished the match strong from the service area, serving-up two more aces to ensure the USD victory. Despite the negative hitting percentage, LMU kept the final set close by notching five service aces, including two apiece from Metter and Bailey. Just as LMU found a way to score outside of the attack, USD saved its best blocking effort for last, managing five team blocks, including a pair of block solos from Hoekman.

LMU will return to action on Thursday when it travels to Santa Clara to start the second half of WCC play at 6 p.m.