Box Score

The #6 LMU sand volleyball team (1-3) split a pair of home matches on Wednesday, defeating #8 Pacific, 4-1, but falling to #9 UCLA by the same score. The two matches were played at Dockweiler Beach in Playa del Rey, Calif.

LMU's top pair of Sarah Sponcil and Betsi Metter had an outstanding day, posting a pair of victories to move to 6-2 overall on the season, including 3-1 in head-to-head team matches.

The Lions opened the day with a 4-1 setback to the Bruins, as UCLA came out strong with victories on each of the first five courts, including the exhibition sixth court. The two teams contested courts two, four and six first, with five, three and one following shortly thereafter. With the match already in hand for UCLA, Metter and Sponcil forced a third and decisive set on the top court, coming back to defeat Ivey Schmitt/Kamilia Tan, 20-22, 21-16, 15-9. Taylor Akana and Litara Keil forced extra points in each of their two sets, but ultimately fell to Elise Zappia/Madie Smith, 23-21, 22-20. Anne Marie Taylor and Avery Bush also put up a valiant effort in a setback, falling in three sets by scores of 21-18, 19-21, 15-12.

Not too long after finishing the match against the Bruins, LMU welcomed Pacific to the same sand for the second half of a doubleheader. This time it was courts four, five and six to compete first, as Pacific took two of the three courts, but LMU managed a split on the scoring fourth and fifth. Hannah Tedrow and Rachelle Suaava got the Lions off to a good start, topping Pacific's Alicja Will and Kimmy Whitson, 21-16, 21-15 to force LMU into a best of three on the remaining courts. The Lions answered the call, posting victories on each of the top three courts, including a grueling three-setter between Keil/Akana and Birch/Bauer of the Tigers. The Lions took the opening set, 21-15, but with all outer courts decided, fell in a marathon 28-26 second set that played out in front of all in attendance. Needed to claim the third set for victory, the duo came out strong en route to earning the 15-10 decision as LMU picked up its first team victory of the year.

The Lions will return to action on March 13 when it travels to USC for matches against the Trojans and Florida State.

#9 UCLA 4, #6 LMU 1
Mar 11, 2015 at Playa del Rey, Calif. (Dockweiler Beach)
Doubles competition
1. Betsi Metter/Sarah Sponcil (LMU) def. Ivey Schmitt/Kamilia Tan (UCLA) 20-22, 21-16, 15-9
2. Elise Zappia/Madie Smith (UCLA) def. Taylor Akana/Litara Keil (LMU) 23-21, 22-20
3. Laurel Weaver/Julie Consani (UCLA) def. Anne Marie Taylor/Avery Bush (LMU) 21-18, 19-21, 15-12
4. Karly Drolson/Rachel Inouye (UCLA) def. Hannah Tedrow/Rachelle Suaava (LMU) 21-15, 21-19
5. Lexi Jasper-Baylin/Zoë Nightingale (UCLA) def. Kristen Castellanos/Taylor Scioscia (LMU) 24-22, 21-17
Ext. Anastasia Kunz/Natalie Miller (UCLA) def. Lindsay Carr/Nicky Kevorken (LMU) 21-10, 22-20

Match Notes
UCLA 2-0; National ranking #9
LMU 0-3; National ranking #6
Order of finish: Doubles (2,6,4,5,3,1);

#6 LMU 4, #8 Pacific 1
Mar 11, 2015 at Playa del Rey, Calif. (Dockweiler Beach)
Doubles competition
1. Betsi Metter/Sarah Sponcil (LMU) def. Lexi Elman/Kat Schulz (PACIFIC) 21-17, 21-15
2. Litara Keil/Taylor Akana (LMU) def. Megan Birch/Anne-Sophie Bauer (PACIFIC) 21-15, 26-28, 15-10
3. Avery Bush/Anne Marie Taylor (LMU) def. Mia Feiner/Gillian Howard (PACIFIC) 21-14, 21-16
4. Hannah Tedrow/Rachelle Suaava (LMU) def. Alicja Wilk/Kimmy Whitson (PACIFIC) 21-16, 21-15
5. Taylor Poncetta/Andie Shelton (PACIFIC) def. Taylor Scioscia/Lindsay Carr (LMU) 21-11, 21-15
Ext. Maycie LaBass/Katrin Gotterba (PACIFIC) def. Nicky Kevorken/Kristen Castellanos (LMU) 21-9, 19-21, 15-7

Match Notes
Pacific 3-1; National ranking #8
LMU 1-3; National ranking #6
Order of finish: Doubles (5,4,6,1,3,2);