Women's Beach Volleyball 4/15/2018 12:00:00 AM

#16 LMU Splits Final Regular Season Matches

April 15, 2018

Finishing up the regular season on Sunday afternoon in Long Beach, Calif., #16 LMU beach volleyball (19-12) split a pair of matches, suffering a sweep at the hands of #6 Long Beach State before rebounding to defeat Utah, 4-1.

LMU's two through five pairs posted a victory in the win over Utah, as Sara Kovac and Jessie Prichard teamed to defeat Melissa Powell/Tawnee Luafalemana, 21-13, 16-21, 15-11 on court two.

After a straight-set, 21-11, 21-15 victory for Emma Doud and Chloe Reinig on court three, Bozena Culo and Maddie Leiphardt won a hard-fought three-setter, 21-17, 16-21, 15-13 on court four.

Seniors Kristen Castellanos and Cierra Simpson, who were recognized before match with the rest of the Lion senior class, also were victorious, knocking off Lauga Gauta/Lauren Sproule, 21-15, 21-14, on court five.

The Lions will now prepare for the WCC Championships, which begin on Friday in Santa Monica, Calif.

LMU vs Long Beach State (Apr 15, 2018)
#6 Long Beach State 5, #16 LMU 0
Apr 15, 2018 at Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach State)
Doubles competition
1. Nele Barber/Sasha Kareloy (LBSU) def. McKayla Ferris/Savannah Slattery (LMU) 21-17, 21-19
2. Megan Kruidhof/Rachel Nieto (LBSU) def. Sara Kovac/Jessie Prichard (LMU) 21-18, 21-14
3. Hailey Harward/Zoi Konstantopoulou (LBSU) def. Emma Doud/Chloe Reinig (LMU) 21-16, 29-27
4. Claire Newlander/Nicci Reinking (LBSU) def. Bozena Culo/Maddie Leiphardt (LMU) 21-14, 21-18
5. Hannah Matt/Marisa Ramsey (LBSU) def. Kristen Castellanos/Cierra Simpson (LMU) 21-11, 21-19
Ext. Emma Kirst/Alexis Patterson (LBSU) vs. Kekai Whitford/Paige Panter (LMU) 23-21, 18-21, unfinished

Match Notes
LMU 18-12; National ranking #16
Long Beach State 21-4; National ranking #6
LMU ranked #16 according to AVCA; #17 according to DiG Magazine
LBSU ranked #6 according to AVCA & DiG Magazine

Utah vs LMU (Apr 15, 2018)
#16 LMU 4, Utah 1
Apr 15, 2018 at Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach)
Doubles competition
1. Adora Anae/Dani Barton (UTAH) def. Savannah Slattery/McKayla Ferris (LMU) 21-17, 21-14
2. Sara Kovac/Jessie Prichard (LMU) def. Melissa Powell/Tawnee Luafalemana (UTAH) 21-13, 16-21, 15-11
3. Emma Doud/Chloe Reinig (LMU) def. Kenzie Koerber/Brianna Doehrmann (UTAH) 21-11, 21-15
4. Bozena Culo/Maddie Leiphardt (LMU) def. Bailey Choy/Berkeley Oblad (UTAH) 21-17, 16-21, 15-13
5. Kristen Castellanos/Cierra Simpson (LMU) def. Lauga Gauta/Lauren Sproule (UTAH) 21-15, 21-14
Ext. Kekai Whitford/Paige Panter (LMU) vs. Alexa Van Komen/Lauren Sproule (UTAH) 18-21, 21-12, unfinished