LOS ANGELES – The Lions came up just short against the conference-leading Pepperdine Waves, losing 3-2 in a hard-fought match Thursday night.
 
In the first set, LMU quickly took a 6-3 lead over the Waves, capitalizing on three consecutive errors by Pepperdine. A well-timed group block by Jacquelyn Moore and Amethyst Harper began a 3-0 run, prompting a Waves timeout. Although the Waves made a late rush, scoring five consecutive points and narrowing the gap to one (21-20), the Lions sealed the set with two kills from Kari Geissberger and Moore, winning 25-21.
 
Set two didn't go the Lions way, losing the set 12-25; however, they bounced back in set three, starting with a commanding 5-0 lead. Tyler Alcorn's back-to-back kills extended LMU's lead to 11-6, but the Waves made a comeback, taking a 15-13 lead. The score remained tight, tying six more times until Geissberger's kill and Michelle Shaffer's service ace gave the Lions a 24-22 advantage. They secured the set 25-23.
 
In set four, the Waves initially led, but LMU went on a 3-0 run, closing the gap to 11-8. A sequence of four consecutive points, initiated by a Shaffer kill, evened the score to 18-18. Despite a strong effort, the Lions couldn't overcome the Waves, who won the set 25-21.
 
The fifth set began with the Lions scoring four consecutive points, prompting a Pepperdine timeout. Both teams traded points until the Waves pulled ahead with five consecutive points and took the lead. A crucial kill by Moore tied the score at seven apiece, but in a closely contested set, the Waves came out victorious, winning 15-11 and securing the overall game with a 3-2 victory.
 
Sam Hastings showcased an impressive performance in digs, leading with 20. Geissberger contributed 16 kills and 18.5 points, while Moore recorded 15 kills, 6.0 blocks, and an outstanding hitting percentage of .538. Harper and Isabella Bareford both finished second on the leaderboard, with Harper tallying 4.0 blocks and Bareford contributing 26 assists.
 
The Lions next game Oct. 26 against the San Diego Toreros at 7 PM in San Diego.

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