Box Score

In its second-to-last match at the LBSU/LMU Mizuno Invitational, the LMU women's volleyball team (5-3) posted a 25-22, 25-18, 25-23 sweep of Oakland (2-7) from LMU's Gersten Pavilion.

Sophomore Sarah Sponcil's run of consecutive double-doubles to begin the season came to an end at seven, but the native of Phoenix, Ariz. still managed 11 kills with six digs in the victory. Sponcil provided a balanced attack, registering five kills in the first and second sets, before collecting one in the finale. She hit .333 on 24 swings with just three errors.

The Lions as a team hit .333 over the three sets, as Hannah Tedrow dished out 39 assists to accompany eight digs and two block assists. Senior Avery Bush provided a pair of service aces, while Nicky Kevorken had three block assists to help LMU to six total team blocks.

Cassie Pelloni led the attack for Oakland, notching 12 kills to finish four ahead of teammates Sammy Condon and Melissa Deatsch with eight apiece. The Golden Grizzlies also finished with six total team blocks, paced by three block assists from Amanda Baker, Condon and Deatsch.

Sponcil came out strong in the first set, registering her five kills on 11 swings with only one error. Senior Amber Mirabello also added some firepower, connecting for four kills on eight attacks. As they have seemingly done in every match this year, LMU got off to a solid start and took an early lead only to have the opponent come back late to make a run at stealing the set. The Lions led 16-13 on a kill from Tedrow, but three straight points for Oakland knotted the tally at 16-16. Leading 22-20, LMU won the next two points to take a 24-20 lead, eventually earning the set on a kill from Jamie Lea.

The Lions never trailed in the second set as Sponcil once again notched five kills, this time on seven errorless attacks. Lea and Rachelle Suaava both added four kills, while LMU also managed a match-best three blocks in the set. LMU won four of the first five points before eventually extending the lead to seven at 18-11 on a kill from Suaava. Continuing to push forward, the Lions reached an eight-point advantage at 20-12 on an ace from Bush, and eventually took the set on Lea's final kill of the period.

While the second was all LMU, Oakland played the Lions tough in the third en route to forcing LMU into eight tie scores and seven lead changes. Lea finished the match strong, sharing the set-high with four kills and a block assist as LMU earned the sweep by way of a 25-23 victory. The Lions found themselves trailing 23-21 late in the set as Amanda Baker and Jessica Dood combined to stuff Sponcil, but LMU won the final four straight points to close the match and record the sweep. Sponcil and Mirabello finished off the match with back-to-back kills for LMU.

The Lions will finish tournament play tonight with a home match against Stony Brook at 7 p.m.