LOS ANGELES –  After having its fall season moved to the spring, the Loyola Marymount University volleyball team will open up its much anticipated 2020-21 season this week against Saint Mary's College at home in Gersten Pavilion. 
 
The Lions will kick off a shortened season, only playing West Coast Conference teams, with their first match of the season starting this Tuesday at 6:00 PM. 
 
The Lions will head into Tuesday's game with a fifth-place finish in the 2020-21 WCC Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll, receiving 50 votes, right above Saint Mary's which received 41 votes. 
 
Two Lions were named to the 2020-21 All-WCC Preseason Volleyball Team, including, Rose Booth and Emme Walters. In their 2019 season, Booth started in 13 out of the 20 matches she appeared in and finished second on the team in points with 263.5 and averaged 3.32 kills per set. 
 
Walters started in 20 games out of the 26 matches she appeared in and led the team in blocks with 70 on the season and finished fourth on the team in kills, averaging 1.71 kills per set. 
 
Last season, the Lions went 9-0 in West Coast Conference play, which included a sweep against the Gaels. In the teams' first meeting, LMU beat SMC 3-2 on the road and then beat the Gaels 3-1 at home. The Gaels went 7-11 in WCC play last season. 
 
The Lions first serve of the season will be on Tuesday at 6:00 PM in Gersten Pavilion. LMU will be back on the court on Wednesday to host the Gaels for a second time at 3:00 PM.