LOS ANGELES – Three of the four sets in LMU women's volleyball's game on Thursday night were decided by just two points as Pacific took the match, 3-1 (25-23, 25-21, 24-26, 26-24).
 
The Lions turned a 6-4 deficit into a 9-7 lead thanks to a 5-1 run in the first set. The two sides battled back and forth before LMU rattled off three consecutive points and used a triple block by Audrey Klemp, Emmelyn Walters, and Gabbie Heller to take a 23-21 lead. Pacific closed out the set with the next four points to take the first game.
 
Pacific broke a 9-9 tie in the second set with the next four points to take a lead that would hold until the end. A service ace by Rose Booth cut the deficit down to 20-18, but LMU wouldn't get any closer than two points.
 
Booth helped propel LMU to an early lead in the third set with back-to-back aces to push LMU on top 5-1 and force the early timeout by the Tigers. Booth added a third ace in the set to give the Lions a 14-8 lead forcing Pacific to call their final timeout. The Tigers responded with the next six points to even the game at 14-all. LMU benefited from kills off the arms of Jacquelyn Moore and Megan Rice to break a tie score and go ahead 18-15. The score would be tied four times from 21-21 through 24-24, until LMU ended the game with back-to-back points.
 
Pacific took a turn at the early lead in the fourth set, jumping ahead 5-1 and 9-4. LMU used a 4-0 run to bring the game within two at 11-9 with Rice serving. The Lions would not come any closer until scoring three points in a row, including the final two coming with consecutive aces by Booth to tie the score at 23-all. LMU fended off one match point but could not overtake the Tigers.
 
Three Lions finished with double-digit kills, including 14 from Rice and 11 apiece from Klemp and Booth.
 
Booth scored a career-high six aces and added a season-best 18.5 points and eight digs.
 
Isabella Bareford totaled 38 assists in the match.
 
LMU will return to the court on Saturday afternoon to take on Saint Mary's for a 1pm contest.