Women's Beach Volleyball 3/30/2018 12:00:00 AM

#15 Lions Close Home Schedule with Three Wins

March 30, 2018

Hosting a trio of matches on Thursday afternoon from Ocean Park Courts in Santa Monica, Calif., the #15 LMU beach volleyball team (12-7) swept Concordia and Vanguard to bookend a 3-2 win over WCC foe #18 Saint Mary's.

McKayla Ferris and Savannah Slattery won a pair of matches at the top of the order against Concordia and Saint Mary's, but Jessie Prichard and Sara Kovac played at #1 against Vanguard, notching the victory in the final match. That duo also defeated a pair from Concordia in the first match of the day while competing at the #2 spot in the order.

While Ferris did not play against Vanguard, Slattery teamed with Paige Panter at #2 in the order, defeating Kelli Dowell/Hannah Holder, 21-16, 21-16.

LMU's #3 (Veronica Nederend and Emma Doud) and #4 (Bozena Culo and Maddie Leiphard) pairs each went 3-0 on Thursday, winning crucial matches in LMU's 3-2 win over the Gaels. Each pair has now won six straight matches.

The Lions used two different pairs at #5 over the course of the day, with Chloe Reinig and Kekai Whitford defeating a pair from Concordia before Cierra Simpson and Kristen Castellanos topped a duo from Vanguard to close play from Santa Monica.

On Saturday, the 31st, the Lions will travel to Malibu to play against #1 Pepperdine (15-2) at 9:00 am, #4 USC (15-6) at 12:30 pm, and Saint Mary's (9-2) once again at 2:50 pm.

Condordia vs LMU (Mar 29, 2018)
#15 LMU 5, Condordia 0
Mar 29, 2018 at Santa Monica, Calif. (Ocean Park Courts)
Doubles competition
1. McKayla Ferris/Savannah Slattery (LMU) def. Tristan Self/Vanessa Bernzen (CONC) 21-18, 21-12
2. Jessie Prichard/Sara Kovac (LMU) def. Riley Gill/Avery Keathley (CONC) 21-13, 21-14
3. Veronica Nederend/Emma Doud (LMU) def. Marcela Frazzoni/Kyra Auten (CONC) 21-18, 21-11
4. Bozena Culo/Maddie Leiphardt (LMU) def. Asia O'Neil/Jessica Diedrich (CONC) 21-11, 21-16
5. Chloe Reinig/Kekai Whitford (LMU) def. Kekela Hendrickson/Julia Denboer (CONC) 21-8, 21-13

Match Notes
Condordia 3-7
LMU 10-7; National ranking #15
LMU ranked #15 according to DiG Magazine; #16 according to AVCA

Saint Mary's vs LMU (Mar 29, 2018)
#15 LMU 3, #18 Saint Mary's 2
Mar 29, 2018 at Santa Monica, Calif. (Ocean Park Courts)
Doubles competition
1. McKayla Ferris/Savannah Slattery (LMU) def. Payton Rund/Madison Baumann (SMC) 21-17, 19-21, 15-10
2. Lindsey Knudsen/Emily Bible (SMC) def. Jessie Prichard/Sara Kovac (LMU) 21-18, 17-21, 15-10
3. Veronica Nederend/Emma Doud (LMU) def. Sarah Chase/Mary Hernandez (SMC) 17-21, 21-16, 15-9
4. Bozena Culo/Maddie Leiphardt (LMU) def. Kelsey Knudsen/Lindsey Calvin (SMC) 21-15, 21-15
5. Sienna Young/Morgan Kendrick (SMC) def. Chloe Reinig/Kekai Whitford (LMU) 21-18, 21-16

Match Notes
Saint Mary's 10-4; National ranking #18
LMU 11-7; National ranking #15
LMU ranked #15 according to DiG Magazine; #16 according to AVCA
SMC ranked #18 according to DiG Magazine; #19 according to AVCA

Vanguard vs LMU (Mar 29, 2018)
#15 LMU 5, Vanguard 0
Mar 29, 2018 at Santa Monica, Calif. (Ocean Park Courts)
Doubles competition
1. Jessie Prichard/Sara Kovac (LMU) def. Kayla Tinker/Gabby Morrison (VAN) 21-9, 21-14
2. Savannah Slattery/Paige Panter (LMU) def. Kelli Dowell/Hannah Holder (VAN) 21-16, 21-16
3. Veronica Nederend/Emma Doud (LMU) def. Dani Erdelatz/Charity Dennis (VAN) 21-13, 21-13
4. Bozena Culo/Maddie Leiphardt (LMU) def. Eliana Johnson/Karly Cantu (VAN) 21-9, 16-21, 15-13
5. Cierra Simpson/Kristen Castellanos (LMU) def. Karli Burk/Mackenzie MItchell (VAN) 21-10, 21-5