March 10, 2015 The #6 LMU sand volleyball team (0-2) will host #9 UCLA (1-0) and Pacific (3-0) on Wednesday at Dockweiler Beach in Playa del Rey, Calif. The Lions will open play against UCLA at 9 a.m. before hosting Pacific at 11 a.m.
LMU went 0-2 as a team in Hawaii last weekend, falling to #4 Hawaii and #1 Pepperdine by scores of 4-1 on Friday. Despite the team setbacks, Sarah Sponcil and senior Betsi Metter did post a victory over Pepperdine's #1 pair Kellie Woolever and Kelley Larsen in head-to-head team play. LMU's lone victory over Hawaii came from Rachelle Suaava and Hannah Tedrow at the fourth flight.
In Saturday and Sunday's pool and bracket play, Metter and Sponcil performed well, going 2-0 in Pool 3 before recording a first-round victory and reaching the semifinals of the Gold Bracket where they fell to Woolever/Larsen, 29-27, 21-17.
Sponcil was tabbed the Best Offensive Player at the 2015 Rainbow Wahine Invitational when tournament play concluded on Saturday afternoon.
Litara Keil and Taylor Akana recorded a pair of victories outside of team play, including a victory in the Silver Bracket, while Rachelle Suaava and Hannah Tedrow earned a win in the Bronze Bracket.
UCLA is coming off a 4-1 victory over Cal State Northridge on March 5, while Pacific has posted victories over Cal, Saint Mary's and Stanford to start the season.
There is no charge to attend the matches on Wednesday, as the Lions play at the public beach. The competition courts are located at the end of Culver Blvd. near The Shack restaurant.
