LOS ANGELES – After having to end its 2020 season early, the Loyola Marymount beach volleyball team earned its highest final ranking in program history, as the team finished No. 8 in the nation, according to DiG Magazine. 
 
The Lions' No. 8 ranking comes after an impressive 6-3 season, which includes ranked wins over No. 6 Pepperdine, No. 14 Long Beach State, No. 15 South Carolina and No. 10 Stetson. LMU picked up three 5-0 sweeps over St. Katherine, Vanguard University and South Carolina. 
 
"We were so disappointed to hear the news of the season ending so suddenly," said head coach John Mayer. "Our LMU beach volleyball athletes have made so many sacrifices, worked so incredibly hard and challenged themselves day in and day out. They were ready to compete against anyone in the country. We feel that we could have competed for a national championship with this group."
 
Reka Orsi Toth and Selina Marolf held down court one for the Lions and went 4-3 on the season, while Senior Megan Rice and graduate student Darby Dunn went 6-3 from court two.
 
"It's been amazing being a part of this team and watching it grow into what it has become for the past four year," said senior Savannah Slattery. "With this group of women who we finished with; we were well on our way to the NCAA Championships for the first time in LMU history. Even though we never will get that chance this year, our success and hard work is shown in the fact that we finished with the highest ranking our program has ever seen. The future is so bright for LMU beach volleyball."
 
Slattery paired up with Emma Doud and played from courts three and four. The tandem went 5-4 on the season. 
 
Graduate student Lacy Haddock paired up with Georgia Fusco and grad student Maddie Ligon on courts three and four, going 6-3, 2-0 with Ligon and 4-3 with Fusco. Senior Jessie Prichard went 5-4 on court five with Cassie Chinn. 
 
"I'm so proud of all that we learned together and am thankful to each of our athletes for all that they did for LMU beach volleyball," said Mayer. "The program will forever be stronger because of this team. We owe a special thanks to our six incredible seniors - Darby Dunn, Maddie Ligon, Lacy Haddock, Savannah Slattery, Jessie Prichard, and Emma Doud. They represent the model for the people and players that we want here at LMU."