One of the top offenses in the nation used its strength on defense on Thursday night, as LMU volleyball (12-3, 2-2 WCC) held Santa Clara to just .123 hitting en route to capturing a 25-21, 25-22, 25-22 sweep over the Broncos (5-10, 0-3 WCC) from the Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif.

WINNING THE SERVING BATTLE
LMU continued to serve the ball well on Thursday night, posting six service aces, including four from junior Bo Culo … three of Culo's four came in the third set … with the six aces to just one allowed on the other side of the net, LMU has now served up a WCC-best 104 aces and has allowed just 48 (+56).

BOX SCORE NOTES
Neither team hit for a high percentage on Thursday night, as LMU limited Santa Clara to just the .123 clip, but also managed just a .154 hitting percentage of its own … junior Savannah Slattery led all players with 11 kills, but junior Emma Johnson proved to be the most efficient of any player … the nation's leading attacker in terms of percentage hit .389 while amassing 10 kills on 18 swings … Johnson also added four block assists as LMU won the battle at the net, 7-5 … junior setter Tess Reid continued her stellar campaign, dishing out a match-best 33 assists to accompany 11 digs for a double-double … senior Kekai Whitford emerged as the star in the defensive-heavy match, totaling 24 digs in the three sets … no Santa Clara player finished the match with double-digit kills, as Michelle Shaffer and Kamrin Caoili each had seven to lead the way.

LION NOTES
Whitford's 24 digs are tied for seventh-most in a three-set match in LMU history, and the most since Betsi Metter totaled 28 against UCSB on August 25, 2012 … LMU's 12-3 start to the year is the best since the 2014 squad began the season 14-1 … Culo's four aces are a new career best … Reid's double-double is her seventh of the season.

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS
LMU still has eight 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
"Our serving kept us in this match. Besides that, I was very disappointed in our team's overall focus and urgency to be ready to play this conference match. We are going to get after it at practice tomorrow and be ready for a much-improved USF team on Saturday." – Head coach Aaron Mansfield.

NEXT ROTATION
LMU will complete the current three-match week at San Francisco on Saturday at Noon PT.