LOS ANGELES – For the first time in program history, the Loyola Marymount University beach volleyball team will be heading to the NCAA Beach Volleyball Tournament in Gulf Shores, Ala., as a five-seed. 
 

"It's a great day to be a Beach Lion! It's been a long up and down journey for this program to get this point where we're among the nations elite," said head coach John Mayer. "We owe a huge thanks to all the support we've received from Craig Pintens, Ashley Armstrong and the entire LMU administration. We wouldn't be in this position without their belief in our program. The team has earned this bid because of their hard work and commitment to learning. They're ready to represent LMU and compete for a National Championship."

On Sunday afternoon in Gersten Pavilion, the Lions gathered to watch the 2021 Selection Show, which announced that the Lions will head to the tournament as a five-seed, and will take on the fourth seeded Louisiana State University Tigers. 
 
The Lions will head to Gulf Shores with a 29-6 record and as West Coast Conference Champions, as the team recently won three straight matches to take the conference title. 
 
The Tigers will head into the tournament with a 25-7 record and went 3-2 at their conference championship. 
 
Several Lion pairs earn national recognition, including the tandem of Reka Orsi Toth and Selina Marolf, who are ranked No. 13 at the No. 1 spot and No. 16 at the No. 2 spot. The pair of Iya Lnidahl and Megan Rice and No. 18 at the No. 2 spot and ranked No. 32 at the No. 1 spot. Jessie Prichard and Savannah Slattery have an impressive No. 3 ranking at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. Emma Doud and Madi Firnett are ranked No. 15 at the No. 4 spot and No. 13 at the No. 5 spot. Darby Dunn and Sydnie Herrmann earn a No. 24 ranking at the No. 4 spot. 
 
The Lions will take on the Tigers on Friday at 8:00 AM PST. The matches can be watched on ESPNU. The winner of Friday's match will go on to play the winner of the No. 1 UCLA Bruins or the No. 8 TCU Horned Frogs.