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Playing its first match under first-year head coach Aaron Mansfield, the LMU volleyball team (0-1) accomplished a program first, but ultimately succumb to USC (1-0) in four sets, 23-25, 25-21, 25-14, 25-11, from Gersten Pavilion on Friday.

LMU, which was meeting USC for the ninth time in program history, recorded its first set win of the series, taking the opener, 25-23, behind five kills from Preseason All-WCC selection Savannah Slattery. Slattery finished the match with a match-high tying 13, while sophomore Emma Johnson and junior Sara Kovac each pitched in eight.

Sophomore Megan Rice, who transferred into the program from UCSB this year, put away six kills in her Lion debut, adding a match-high three aces to guide LMU to five in the contest.

On the other side of the net, USC received 13 kills from Khalia Lanier, who narrowly missed a double-double by way of nine digs. The Trojans, who hit .400 over the course of the four sets, including a blistering .684 in the finale, posted 12 blocks, with five block assists apiece coming from Brittany Abercrombie and Danielle Geiger.

LMU will return to action tonight, hosting Albany at 7 p.m. in Gersten Pavilion.