MORAGA, Calif. – For the second straight match, LMU fell behind after dropping the first two sets. Both times, the Lions forced a decisive game, but on Thursday night LMU picked up a five-set win over Saint Mary's, 19-25, 18-25, 25-21, 25-13, 15-10.
 
In the opening set, LMU saw a 9-8 lead get flipped into a 24-14 deficit. The Lions fought off five set points with Megan Rice serving before Saint Mary's was able to finish the game.
 
Despite jumping ahead 6-2 in the second set and holding leads of 15-10, 16-11, and 17-14, LMU could not stop a critical SMC run that flipped the outcome. The Gaels scored nine consecutive points and 12 of the final 13 to take the set, 25-19.
 
In a must-win third set, LMU scored five of the set's first six points. The early lead wouldn't last as Saint Mary's went ahead 6-5. Started by a block assist from Kari Geissberger and Jacquelyn Moore and ending with four consecutive Geissberger kills, LMU jumped back on top 10-6. LMU would hold the lead and claim the set to extend the match as Audrey Klemp finished with a kill.
 
LMU never trailed in the fourth set after starting ahead 4-1. A Peytton Bagwell kill at 16-10 sparked a closing 12-3 stretch that extended the match and secured the set for the Lions.
 
Saint Mary's opened the fifth set with a 4-2 lead, before LMU tied it on back-to-back points. With SMC ahead 5-4, Rose Booth recorded consecutive points to kick start a streak seven unanswered points with Gabbie Heller serving. Geissberger recorded her match-high 22^nd kill on match point to secure victory for the Lions.
 
LMU's hit percentage continued to rise as the match went on. In the three wins, the Lions hit .364 in the third set, .474 in the fourth set, and .588 in the fifth set. LMU did not commit an attack error or service error in the fifth set.
 
Geissberger doubled up the next closer scorer with 28 points in the match. Similarly, Moore doubled up the next closest blocks leader with her 8.0 blocks.
 
Isabella Bareford's 45 assists were 19 more than Saint Mary's team leader.
 
The Lions will remain on the road and face Pacific on Saturday at noon in Stockton.