Nov. 10, 2012

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE Calif. - The LMU volleyball team (17-11) won the final three sets of a match against Cal State Northridge (18-9) to complete a comeback victory on Saturday night in Northridge, Calif. The Lions won the match by scores of 14-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-13, 16-14. LMU never gave up in the match, trailing 13-10 and 14-12 in the final set before storming back for victory.

Junior Kathleen Luft led all players with 17 kills, hitting .282 on 39 swings. The Lions, who were outhit by a count of .291-.193, also received 15 kills from Caitlin DeWitt. The sophomore hit .400 on 30 swings. Freshman Hannah Tedrow set the offense with 46 assists and 10 digs for her second consecutive double-double. The Lions managed nine service aces in the victory, including a pair from Tedrow, Taylor Scioscia and Rachelle Suaava.

Cal State Northridge hit .609 in the first set and .444 in the second, but could not hold off the Lions the rest of the way. Cieana Stinson posted 15 kills while hitting .367 to pace the Matador offense. The CSUN blocking game was in full force on Saturday, teaming for 16 total blocks, including eight block assists from Stinson.

Casey Hinger managed five of her 10 match kills in the first set to help CSUN to the first-set victory. The Matadors also posted six team blocks behind four assists from Hinger. Hinger finished the match with seven block assists.

Stinson led the way in the second for Northridge, posting five kills on seven attacks to guide the Matadors to a .444 hitting percentage. The Lions received four kills from Luft, but LMU hit just .139 in the set.

LMU came alive in the third, winning the set behind four kills from Litara Keil. LMU's serving game seemed to be the difference in the set, as the Lions posted five aces, including a pair from Tedrow and Scioscia.

The Lions came out scorching hot in the fourth set, hitting .542 en route to the lopsided 25-13 to knot the match tally at two sets apiece. Luft had four kills while DeWitt posted five kills on as many errorless attacks to lead the way to victory. LMU never trailed in the fourth, running away with the period.

Neither team showed offensive strength in the finale, as LMU hit .048 to best Cal State Northridge at a neutral .000. Luft finished the period with three kills, while Betsi Metter served up a crucial ace to break a 14-14 stalemate and hand LMU the match-point chance. With the comeback just a point away, a Matador attack error handed the Lions the thrilling victory. CSUN's attack fell apart down the stretch as four of LMU's final six points in the set came on Matador attack errors.

LMU will return to West Coast Conference action on Thursday, traveling to Santa Clara for a match at 6 p.m.