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Senior Jamie Lea led the way with 15 kills on 42 swings as #21 LMU (1-0) opened the 2016 volleyball season with a 3-1 victory over Illinois State (0-1) on Friday night at the 2016 LMU Invitational being played at LMU's Gersten Pavilion over the weekend.

The Lions earned the season-opening win by scores of 25-18, 13-25, 25-18, 25-12.

Lea teamed the 15 kills with three blocks, while junior Sarah Sponcil pitched in 12 kills on 28 attacks. Freshmen setters Tess Reid and Jessie Prichard split time running the offense, with Reid collecting 23 assists and Prichard tossing in 21. Reid finished the match with a double-double, teaming her 23 helpers with a team-high 16 digs.

Perennially a strong serving team, LMU served up four aces, led by Sponcil's two.

Outside of surrendering the second set, a period in which LMU hit .000, the Lions controlled play throughout the match, outhitting the Redbirds .248-.128, and never trailing in the third or fourth.

LMU finished the match strong, hitting .382 in the third set behind five kills from Lea and four more from Sponcil, before improving the attack percentage to .467 in the fourth. Lea collected four of her match-high 15 kills in the finale.

LMU will continue play at the LMU Invitational on Saturday when it hosts Niagara at Noon.

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