A point away from falling behind 2-0 in the match score at 24-23 in the second set, LMU volleyball (2-0) rattled off three straight points to erase the deficit and gain momentum en route to capturing a four-set victory over Hofstra (0-1) by scores of 22-25, 26-24, 25-15, 25-18 on Friday afternoon from the Hilton Penn's Landing Temple Invitational being hosted by Temple University inside McGonigle Hall.

THE TURNING POINT
The second set featured 11 tie scores and five lead changes, but no points proved bigger in deciding the match than those played and won by the Lions down the stretch in the second … already trailing by a set following a 25-22 setback in the first, LMU found itself a point away from a 2-0 hole when Nanishka Perez recorded a kill to put Hofstra on top, 24-23 … with it's back to the wall, LMU received a kill from Savannah Slattery in front of a Hofstra attack error that handed LMU a set-point chance of its own … following a Hofstra timeout, LMU took advantage of the momentum swing, feeding Slattery once more for the kill to even the match at one set apiece.

SLATTERY CONTINUES TORRID START
Slattery had two crucial kills in the final three points for LMU in the second, but those tallies were just two of 17 on the afternoon for the native of Malibu, Calif. … Slattery fell one kill short of the match high, but did so on just 35 swings with only three errors to record a .400 hitting percentage … she would also add a pair of block assists … over two matches this year, Slattery has amassed a team-best 28 kills while hitting .453.

KOVAC DOUBLE-DOUBLE FEATURES MATCH-BEST 18 KILLS
After finishing the first match of the year with nine kills, senior opposite Sara Kovac doubled-up in match two, turning in a match-high 18 while taking 40 swings … Kovac finished the match with 14 digs to record her first double-double of the year and fall just one dig short of the match-high.

REID JOINS KOVAC WITH A DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Junior setter Tess Reid posted her first double-double of the year after teaming 53 assists with a match high-tying 15 digs … Reid also served up two of LMU's seven aces on the afternoon while setting the Lion attack to a .308 hitting percentage.

BOX SCORE NOTES
LMU hit .308 as a team while holding Hofstra to a .241 clip … Hofstra managed 10 team blocks to LMU's nine … Emma Johnson led the way on the block for LMU, registering five block assists, while Michela Rucli had six block assists for Hofstra … Hofstra hit .361 in the opening set, but LMU managed to limit the damage the rest of the way, surrendering .233, .057 and .312 hitting percentages in the final three stanzas … LMU's attack also strengthened as the match grew older, with LMU turning in hitting percentages of .244, .357, .265 and .400, repsectively … five of LMU's nine team blocks came in the third set … the two teams played to 25 tie scores and nine lead changes.

LION NOTES
The Lions are 2-0 this year in neutral matches, and move to 130-59 (.688) in neutral contests since the 1983 season.

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS
LMU still has 10 home matches remaining to be played in Gersten Pavilion … members of LMU's Little Lions Club get into all LMU home volleyball matches as part of the membership, while students, faculty and staff with a valid One Card also receive free General Admission access to every home match … to purchase season or single-game tickets, please contact the LMU Box Office at 310-338-5466 or visit LMULions.com/buywvb.

QUOTABLE
"Hofstra played really clean in the first set. Our serving and passing improved as the match went on, which was a big reason we were able to pull out a win. We also took on the challenge to defend our side of the net and we made it really tough on Hofstra to score in the second, third and fourth sets." – Head Coach Aaron Mansfield

NEXT ROTATION
LMU will conclude play from the Hilton Penn's Landing Temple Invitational on Saturday with an 8 a.m. PT match against the host Owls.