Box Score Aug. 25, 2017 Box Score
Utilizing a strong serving game on Friday night from Gersten Pavilion, LMU (1-1) served up 11 aces, including three apiece from sophomore Megan Rice and senior Kristen Castellanos, en route to capturing a 25-17, 25-16, 25-23 sweep over Albany (0-2). The victory was the first under first-year head coach Aaron Mansfield.
While Rice and Castellanos paced the squad from the service area, sophomore Savannah Slattery led the way on the attack, notching 11 kills on 33 swings to accompany seven digs. Rice turned in an all-around solid match, teaming her three aces with eight kills, five digs and two block assists. Castellanos also shined outside of the serve, amassing a match-best 13 digs.
Junior Sara Kovac followed up an eight-kill performance against USC on Friday morning with nine more on 16 attacks for a .438 hitting percentage against Albany. The native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada also served up an ace and added one block assist.
Rice wasted little time doing her damage from the service line, collecting two of her three aces in the opening stanza to help LMU to four in total. After contributing one of the five Lion aces in the second, she shifted her attention to the attack, registering a team-best five kills in the finale to hand LMU the sweep.
The Great Danes fought to the final point on Friday night, playing LMU to seven tie scores in the third set, including even to 18-18. The Lions managed to reach match point at 24-21 following an Albany attack error, but the visitors staved off two Lion chances before Kovac hammered a ball right down the line to seal the Lion victory and collect her ninth kill.
LMU will conclude the three-match opening weekend on Saturday, hosting #16 Michigan at 7 p.m. from Gersten Pavilion.
